Gay men std
Syphilis: Get the take care of that fits you
What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Any sexual skin-on-skin contact with someone who has infectious syphilis can result in transmission.
The first sign of infection takes the form of a sore that appears on the body part that came in contact with the infection. Since the sore is usually painless, it can go unnoticed especially if it appears inside the mouth, anus, or vagina. If left untreated, the sore may last for several weeks then eventually disappear. In other instances, a rash may arrive on the palms of your hands, bottoms of your feet, torso, or other part of the body.
The symptoms of syphilis will eventually go away, but if it’s left untreated the bacteria remain active in the body and can guide to serious health problems, including blindness, dementia, and harm to the heart.
The average time between infection and symptoms is approximately 21 days, yet symptoms can occur as early as 10 days or as far out as 90 days after infection. It’s achievable for someone to have syphilis for years and not know it. The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested.
Recently, there has
Danish study finds that STI rates in gay men increase before they start PrEP, not after
A Danish study which was able to chart the annual incidence of the three bacterial STIs, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, in people attending sexual health clinics both before and after they started PrEP has establish that they had more than twice as many (115% more) STI diagnoses while on PrEP than they had some moment before starting it.
However it also found that much of this increase in diagnoses was due to increased testing. While the average STI testing rate in people some time before starting PrEP was in the region of 50 tests per 100 person years (i.e. a examine every two years), it was three to four tests per year in people on PrEP, with tests peaking each three months due to PrEP checkups.
When this was taken into account, the diagnosis rate of any of the bacterial STIs in people on PrEP was only 35% higher than it was before PrEP, and in the case of syphilis there was no significant increase.
Glossary
chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection, caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Women can get chlamydia in the cervix, rectum, or throat. Men
Sexual health for gay and double attraction men
Having unprotected penetrative sex is the most likely way to hand over on a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Using a condom helps protect against HIV and lowers the chance of getting many other STIs.
If you’re a man having sex with men (MSM), without condoms and with someone new, you should have an STI and HIV check every 3 months, otherwise, it should be at least once a year. This can be done at a sexual health clinic (SHC) or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. This is key, as some STIs do not lead to any symptoms.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection that's spread by a virus in poo.
Hepatitis A is uncommon in the UK but you can receive it through sex, including oral-anal sex ("rimming") and giving oral sex after anal sex. MSM with multiple partners are particularly at risk. You can also get it through contaminated meal and drink.
Symptoms of hepatitis A can show up to 8 weeks after sex and include tiredness and feeling sick (nausea).
Hepatitis A is not usually life-threatening and most people make a occupied recovery within a couple of months.
MSM can avoid getting hepatitis A by:
- washing hands after se
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GAY & Double attraction MEN - stis
STIs
Gay, bisexual and other men that have sex with men can be at increased risk of all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and are disproportionately affected by infections such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV.
The best way to prevent HIV is by using condoms and lube for anal sex although condoms will not always prevent you getting all STIs. Not everyone will experience symptoms when they have an STI. Some may have no obvious symptoms, others mild symptoms and a limited severe symptoms. Even in the absence of symptoms, you may still hold an STI and still be able to transfer it on. Only by getting yourself checked out will you know. If you think you might have an STI, find a check up at Sexual Health - clinic list.
Practicing safer sex and having regular check ups are ways to ensure you savor healthy, fulfilling and enjoyable sex throughout your life.
How often should I get checked?
If you're sexually active, especially if you're having sex with multiple partners, you should have regular check ups for STIs every 3-6 months. Even if you have no symptoms you could still have an STI and