Background HIV and syphilis prevalence has increased substantially among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. This study aims to assess the magnitude in other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among this population.

Methods Chinese and English peer-reviewed articles were searched from five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Wanfang Data, VIP Chinese Journal Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) up to Dec 2012. Pooled prevalence estimate for each STI from available studies were calculated. Odds ratios for STIs prevalence among MSM were compared with the adults in the general population and male sex workers (MSW).

Results Eighty-eight articles (11 in English and 77 in Chinese) with a total of 35203 MSM were included in this review. The national prevalence level of STIs between 2003 and 2011 were: 6.32% (3.54–11.02%) for chlamydia, 1.86% (1.27–2.73%) for gonorrhoea, 8.92% (7.75–10.24%) for HBV, 1.25% (1.00–1.55%) for HCV, 66.25% (57.38–74.10%) for any HPV genotype, 10.64% (6.24–17.57%) for HSV-2, and 13.45% (11.78–15.23%) for syphilis. MSM have consistently higher risk of STIs than the general Chinese population (chlamydia: OR = 1.43, 1.31–1.56; gonorrhoea: OR = 2.42, 1.63–3.59; HBV: OR = 1.97, 1.57–2.48; HCV: OR = 48.40, 6.38–367.09; syphilis: OR = 28.38, 28.38–31.14). However, as a subgroup of MSM, MSWs were 1.43 (1.31–1.56), 2.42 (1.63–3.59) and 2.26 (1.37–3.72) more likely to be infected with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HCV than the broader MSM population.

Conclusion Prevalence levels of STIs among MSM in China are greater than levels in the general population and MSWs have greater prevalence of STIs compared with the broader MSM population.