[Increase in unsafe sex behavior among homosexual men in Amsterdam]

Since 1984 a decrease in the prevalence of unprotected anogenital intercourse among homosexual men was observed in a longitudinal cohort study in Amsterdam. Two years ago, there was a strong indication that this trend was reversed, as the number of cases of gonorrhoea among homo- and bisexual visitors of the municipal STD clinic in Amsterdam started to increase again. In addition, recent analysis of behavioural data reported by participants in the cohort showed an increase in the percentage of men who had unprotected insertive or receptive anogenital intercourse (p < 0.05). Between the second half of 1990 and the second half of 1991, the percentage of men reporting unprotected insertive or receptive anogenital contact with a steady partner remained constant: 24.6% versus 27.7%. However, a serious increase occurred in the percentage of men having unprotected anogenital intercourse with casual partners (an increase from 13.1% to 24.0%; p < 0.01). Findings regarding the age distribution among homo- and bisexual men diagnosed with gonorrhoea indicate that the increase in unprotected anogenital contact was strongest among men under the age of thirty.