We have made incredible progress around HIV in recent years.
Across England, new HIV diagnoses fell by 65% between 2015 and 2024 for gay and bi men.
There are several reasons for this dramatic shift. Testing and PrEP uptake is at record levels for gay and bi men and modern HIV medication is so effective that most people living with HIV cannot pass on the virus.
But despite all this, we still have more to do.
It’s estimated there are 1,600 gay and bi men who are living with HIV in England but do not know it. It’s essential that they get a test, so they can find out their status and get on treatment which will protect their health and the health of their partners. National HIV Testing Week, which runs from 9 February, is the perfect time to test.
In 2024 there were still 324 gay and bi men who were diagnosed with HIV in London. In fact, 40% of new HIV diagnoses amongst gay and bi men in England take place in the capital.
You can order a free home test kit for HIV, which will give you your result within 15 minutes by going to freetesting.hiv.
If you prefer to be tested in-person, you can go to any sexual health clinic, including ones like 56 Dean Street and Mortimer Market Centre which offer specific services for gay and bi men. Or you can go for an in-person test with one of the fantastic sexual health charities which offer tests in different parts of London, including Spectra, Metro, Positive East and Terrence Higgins Trust.
These charities can also help provide you with support if you are diagnosed with HIV or if you have other questions around sexual health.
And your if result is negative, you can take steps to stay negative, such as starting PrEP or always using other forms of prevention, such as condoms.
We could end new HIV cases completely in England by 2030. This would be a massive moment for the whole country, and the LBGT+ community in particular.
Make sure you do your bit today by ordering a test at freetesting.hiv.
By Taku Mukiwa
