STDs/STIs
(data provided by the STOP AIDS Project of San Francisco)
Syphilis
Syphilis affects the body in stages. The first stage is marked by painless, reddish-brown sores on the mouth, genitals, and fingers. The sores last 1-5 weeks and then go away. The second stage shows up after the sores heal. Symptoms of the second stage include a rash anywhere on the body and flu-like feelings. While the symptoms may come and go, until antibiotics are taken you still have syphilis. Syphilis in the body can be detected with either a blood or a urine sample.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea can appear in throat and rectal tests, so make sure you get swabbed in both areas. Common symptoms include a watery white drip from the penis, the need to urinate more often, and burning or pain when you urinate or have a bowel movement.
Herpes
Herpes is a viral STD marked by small, painful blisters on the genitals or mouth. Itching or burning may occur before the blisters appear. While the blisters may go away in a few weeks, herpes is still present and outbreaks can happen at any time.
Hepatitis B
You can get Hep B from semen or from blood. This is one of the few STDs that you can get immunized for – many free clinics offer free vaccinations for Hep A & B. Symptoms of Hep B include flu-like feelings that persist, tiredness, jaundice (yellow skin), and darker urine.
Get checked for STDs often
Get checked for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) every 3 to 6 months if you’re having sex.
You can have an STD and not know it – in fact, over 85% of people with rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea don’t have symptoms.
Having an STD makes it anywhere from two to five times more likely to get or transmit HIV through open sores and from a weakened immune system.
Most STDs can be treated with medication. But untreated STDs can lead to irritated genitals, sores, and even heart and joint diseases and cancer.
Getting tested
If you’ve performed oral sex, it’s important to ask for a throat swab. Likewise, if you’ve bottomed, ask for a rectal swab.
Herpes is a virus that is easily transmitted through sex. While it cannot be cured, any noticeable sores on the genitals or mouth can be treated.
If you test positive for an STD, make sure you get hooked up with treatment from either a free clinic or your doctor. It’s important to follow the instructions on the treatment carefully or it may not work – take all the medication and ask when you can have sex again.
Tell your partners
Tell your partners whenever possible that they may have an STD to help prevent further transmission – after all, what goes around comes around!
inSPOT is an anonymous online way to tell your partners that they may have an STD.
Many clinics can give you a partner pack – medication for your partners – if you test positive for an STD.
Click here for STD testing sites.
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It is possible to have an STD and not know.
85% of guys with Rectal Gonorreha have no symptoms. If you fuck often, test often.
Make it part of your routine.
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