Sexually transmitted diseases and the use of condoms in a cohort of homosexual men followed since 1983 in Finland.

High rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were recorded among 235 homosexually active men at the start of a prospective follow-up study in June 1983 in Finland. The vast majority (88.5%) reported at least one STD, the most common of them being pubic lice (64.7%) followed by gonorrhoea (42.9%) and non-gonococcal urethritis (26.4%). Those 31 (13.2%) who were seropositive for HIV at the end of the study, had experienced more episodes of STDs than the seronegative individuals (p = 0.0027). Nine HIV seroconversions were noted during the follow-up of 5-40 months, all in individuals who had practised "unsafe" sex. The study participants were repeatedly given detailed advice for avoiding HIV infection, and a tendency towards "safer" sexual practises resulting in a decrease in incidence of most STDs, was noted during the course of the study. However, further spread of HIV is to be expected because 57% of the men still reported practising and sex at the end of the follow-up, and 42% of them without condoms.