{"id":8854,"date":"2025-10-03T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8854"},"modified":"2025-11-27T15:13:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T15:13:04","slug":"the-worrying-rise-of-sexually-transmitted-gut-infections-in-men-who-have-sex-with-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/the-worrying-rise-of-sexually-transmitted-gut-infections-in-men-who-have-sex-with-men\/","title":{"rendered":"The worrying rise of sexually transmitted gut infections in men who have sex with men"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When most people think of sexually transmitted infections, they tend to think about infections that affect the genitals. They don\u2019t tend to think of infections that affect the gut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a fascinating new <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.asm.org\/doi\/10.1128\/cmr.00075-23\"><strong>article<\/strong><\/a> in <em>Clinical Microbiology<\/em> is drawing attention to how closely infections of the gut can be sexually transmitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"752\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image.jpeg 752w, https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-300x152.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>STIs can seriously affect your health if left untreated. Book a Full Screen near you to safeguard your sexual health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\">Get tested<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>What does the article say?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The article\u2019s lead author, Dr. Ferric C. Feng, professor of microbiology, laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, writes that the \u201c[global] emergence of several multidrug resistant gut pathogens and the potential for crossover transmission among different at-risk populations underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and the need to consider community-level education and testing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The authors of the article drew particular attention to infections like <em>Shigella<\/em> and <em>Campylobacter<\/em> among men who have sex with men. The sexual transmission of enteric infections (STEIs) among this group has been reported and recognised since the 1960s. The \u201cpublic health response to these infections and identification and identification of transmission networks fall between the traditional groupings of sexually transmitted and foodborne diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The worrying rise of sexually transmitted gut infections in men who have sex with men\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tbleV5qjfBc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2>What does this mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some infections, such as <em>Shigella<\/em> and <em>Campylobacter<\/em>, <strong>can be transmitted sexually or through contaminated food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The article\u2019s authors were initially concerned that having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/page\/hiv\"><strong>HIV<\/strong><\/a> or being on the drugs used to prevent or control HIV might increase the chance of catching these infections. However, there appears to be no increase in the rate of transmission of pathogens affecting HIV-positive or HIV negative men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather, <strong>sexual behaviour seems to be the driving force behind the transmission of these infections<\/strong>. Oral-anal contact, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.com\/en\/blog\/can-i-get-an-sti-from-rimming\"><strong>rimming<\/strong><\/a>, is the primary way these infections are passed on. Recent cultural changes make these kinds of behaviours more likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sexual encounters with new partners are easily made through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/do-dating-apps-help-spread-stis\/\"><strong>online dating and hookup sites<\/strong><\/a> and apps. Genital and genito-oral transmission is also helped by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/why-are-young-people-no-longer-using-condoms\/\"><strong>decline in use of contraceptive barriers like condoms<\/strong><\/a>, as quick and effective treatments for infections like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/chlamydia\"><strong>Chlamydia<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/gonorrhoea\"><strong>Gonorrhoea<\/strong><\/a> become more readily available. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/does-chemsex-put-you-at-risk-of-getting-an-sti\/\"><strong>Chemsex<\/strong><\/a> also plays a role in lowering inhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Men who have sex with men are more likely to contract these infections, tend to be younger, urban, and travel internationally. They also tend to have wider sexual networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People who are homeless, live in unsanitary conditions, and who exchange sex for money are also at more risk, as well as people who are immunocompromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Which infections count as STEIs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/hepatitis-a\"><strong>Hepatitis A<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A highly contagious viral liver infection spread through contaminated food or water or close contact.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Extreme unwellness, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice, and low-grade fever<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Campylobacter<\/strong>: A bacterial infection often contracted from undercooked poultry or contaminated water.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>E.Coli:<\/strong> A group of bacteria, some strains of which cause gastrointestinal illness through contaminated food or water.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Watery or bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, low-grade fever, and vomiting<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Salmonella:<\/strong> A bacterial infection commonly spread through contaminated food, especially raw meat and eggs.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Diarrhoea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and headache<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Shigella:<\/strong> A bacterial infection of the intestines spread via contaminated food, water, or person-to-person contact.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Bloody or mucus-filled diarrhoea, fever, stomach cramps, and nausea<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Entamoeba histolytica:<\/strong> A parasitic infection acquired through contaminated food or water, especially in tropical regions.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Diarrhoea, stomach pain, cramping; severe cases may cause bloody stools and liver abscesses<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Giardia:<\/strong> A parasitic infection of the small intestine, often spread through contaminated water.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Scanty, watery or greasy stools, bloating, gas, stomach cramps, fatigue, and weight loss<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Strongyloides:<\/strong> A parasitic worm infection acquired through contact with contaminated soil.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Itchy rash, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating, and cough; severe cases can be life-threatening in immunocompromised individuals<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Cryptosporidium:<\/strong> A microscopic parasite causing diarrheal illness, especially in the immunocompromised, often spread through contaminated water.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, and sometimes fever<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Cystoisospora:<\/strong> An intestinal parasite causing infection mainly in tropical regions.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Microsporidia:<\/strong> A group of parasitic fungi-like organisms that infect various tissues, especially in immunocompromised individuals.<ul><li><em>Common symptoms: Diarrhoea, weight loss, and systemic symptoms depending on the organ affected<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>How serious are STEIs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>STEIs are becoming increasingly difficult to treat and can persist for extended periods. Fang and his colleagues also note that many of these gut infections have become increasingly resistant to drugs in recent years. International travel has also made it easier for these infections to break free from national barriers, where they may have been isolated in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Responses to STEIs have been hampered because they aren\u2019t clearly defined as a single, specific infection. Treatment and prevention initiatives tend to focus on traditional STIs, like Gonorrhoea and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/syphilis\"><strong>Syphilis<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Health professionals may not seek the sexual history of people with these gut infections during consultations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>STEIs can have serious consequences if they\u2019re not treated properly. Talk to your healthcare provider if you\u2019re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re worried about STIs, Better2Know can help. Book a sexual health test at a clinic near you by clicking the button below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"752\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1.jpeg\" alt=\"A person on the phone\n\nAI-generated content may be incorrect.\" class=\"wp-image-8856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1.jpeg 752w, https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-1-300x152.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Don\u2019t leave your sexual health to chance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/clinics\/book-online\/choose-clinic\">Get tested<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<!-- Simple Share Buttons Adder (8.1.2) simplesharebuttons.com --><div class=\"ssba-classic-2 ssba ssbp-wrap left ssbp--theme-1\"><div style=\"text-align:left\"><span class=\"ssba-share-text\">Share this...<\/span><br\/><a data-site=\"\" class=\"ssba_facebook_share\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8854\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/facebook.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Share on Facebook\" \/><div title=\"Facebook\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Facebook<\/div><\/a><a data-site='pinterest' class='ssba_pinterest_share' href='javascript:void((function()%7Bvar%20e=document.createElement(&apos;script&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;type&apos;,&apos;text\/javascript&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;charset&apos;,&apos;UTF-8&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;src&apos;,&apos;\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r=&apos;+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)%7D)());'><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/pinterest.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Pin on Pinterest\" \/><div title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Pinterest<\/div><\/a><a data-site=\"\" class=\"ssba_twitter_share\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8854&amp;text=The%20worrying%20rise%20of%20sexually%20transmitted%20gut%20infections%20in%20men%20who%20have%20sex%20with%20men%20\"  target=&quot;_blank&quot; ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/twitter.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Tweet about this on Twitter\" \/><div title=\"Twitter\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Twitter<\/div><\/a><a data-site=\"linkedin\" class=\"ssba_linkedin_share ssba_share_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8854\"  target=&quot;_blank&quot; ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/linkedin.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"LinkedIn\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Share on LinkedIn\" \/><div title=\"Linkedin\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Linkedin<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article has been medically reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/page\/dr-steve-chapman\"><strong>Dr. Steve Chapman<\/strong><\/a>, <strong>27\/11\/2025<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When most people think of sexually transmitted infections, they tend to think about infections that affect the genitals. They don\u2019t tend to think of infections that affect the gut. But a fascinating new article in Clinical Microbiology is drawing attention to how closely infections of the gut can be sexually transmitted. Keep reading to find [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[430,20,2606,1346],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[2605,654],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8854"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8854"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8909,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8854\/revisions\/8909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8854"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=8854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}