Ways to help avoid STIs?

[Barcode]

I came back from my routine STI testing and was frustrated to find out I had not one but two different STIs. Both treatable, but I was asymptomatic for both, so I feel bad about possibly unwittingly passing them along.

 

I can and will get tested more frequently (it had been about 6 months). Do escorts do anything special or take extra precautions to avoid STIs when you see many clients, especially w bareback sex?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Get tested monthly if you're going to be very sexually active. Get the 10-panel. Don't skimp on it.

[+ OliverSaks]

More frequent testing, fewer partners, more lube, PreP, condoms, avoid/limit drugs and alcohol, trim nails, avoid brushing teeth and shaving too close to sex, learn common STI symptoms & skin changes to look for in yourself and partners - to name a few

[liubit]

Of course, the best way to avoid STIs is no sex at all ??

[+ VictorPowers]

I am batting 1,000 and have never had an STI. I’m on prep and tested very regularly with full panel tests. I take my own health very seriously and feel great knowing despite having dozens of partners, I am all good! I personally play safe and mitigate my risk by doing this.

[+ 7829V]

I came back from my routine STI testing and was frustrated to find out I had not one but two different STIs. Both treatable, but I was asymptomatic for both, so I feel bad about possibly unwittingly passing them along.

 

I can and will get tested more frequently (it had been about 6 months). Do escorts do anything special or take extra precautions to avoid STIs when you see many clients, especially w bareback sex?

Could you share the sti you tested positive? Will you notify all your sexual partners? I think there are services where you can notify anonymously.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Could you share the sti you tested positive? Will you notify all your sexual partners? I think there are services where you can notify anonymously.

 

Honestly, it really doesn't matter what STD it was. It clearly spooked the OP. I'd hate to see this thread turn judgemental.

 

So far, the comments and suggestions have been great.

 

... Well, except for the whole not having sex at all idea. That's just against god.

[+ 7829V]

Honestly, it really doesn't matter what STD it was. It clearly spooked the OP. I'd hate to see this thread turn judgemental.

 

So far, the comments and suggestions have been great.

 

... Well, except for the whole not having sex at all idea. That's just against god.

Just wanted to know which ones have no symptoms for a long time. ??‍♂️

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Just wanted to know which ones have no symptoms for a long time. ??‍♂️

 

Here's an article to shed some light on asymptomatic STDs.

 

https://www.self.com/story/stds-you-can-have-without-knowing-it

[Barcode]

Honestly, it really doesn't matter what STD it was. It clearly spooked the OP. I'd hate to see this thread turn judgemental.

 

So far, the comments and suggestions have been great.

 

... Well, except for the whole not having sex at all idea. That's just against god.

 

I appreciate all the advice, and thanks for validating that there wouldn't be slut shaming since I asked. Since Prep, I am not as careful I as could be *cough* *condoms*, and I did disclose to recent partners. I had ramped up my sexual activity and had not ramped up my testing frequency at the same pace.

 

I'll disclose what was asymptomatic, in the hope someone reads it and gets checked out.

 

One was syphillis. I had an infection 10 or so years ago with a painful chancre that lasted for weeks. This time it showed up in the blood test unexpectedly. Thinking back, I had what I thought was a hemorrhoid that went away in a couple of days a few months back. That was probably it.

 

Other one that I missed was gonorrhea in my throat. The urine test came back negative. Doc decided I was a dirty whore after the bloodwork (kidding! he's gay and cool about it), but he decided to do a throat swab and picked it up. Gonorrhea is localized so a urine test would miss it in your throat (and vice versa). And it's cold season so I dismissed the sore throat and extra coughing as that.

 

The no sex at all idea... I'm too horny for that I'd rather be clean and ready for whatever comes next. There's too many hot guys on this forum and still to many fantasies to explore to consider that.

[liubit]

The no sex at all idea... I'm too horny for that I'd rather be clean and ready for whatever comes next. There's too many hot guys on this forum and still to many fantasies to explore to consider that.

Of course, of course. I am like you. My no sex comment was made tongue in cheek

[Guest]

I appreciate all the advice, and thanks for validating that there wouldn't be slut shaming since I asked. Since Prep, I am not as careful I as could be *cough* *condoms*, and I did disclose to recent partners. I had ramped up my sexual activity and had not ramped up my testing frequency at the same pace.

 

I'll disclose what was asymptomatic, in the hope someone reads it and gets checked out.

 

One was syphillis. I had an infection 10 or so years ago with a painful chancre that lasted for weeks. This time it showed up in the blood test unexpectedly. Thinking back, I had what I thought was a hemorrhoid that went away in a couple of days a few months back. That was probably it.

 

Other one that I missed was gonorrhea in my throat. The urine test came back negative. Doc decided I was a dirty whore after the bloodwork (kidding! he's gay and cool about it), but he decided to do a throat swab and picked it up. Gonorrhea is localized so a urine test would miss it in your throat (and vice versa). And it's cold season so I dismissed the sore throat and extra coughing as that.

 

The no sex at all idea... I'm too horny for that I'd rather be clean and ready for whatever comes next. There's too many hot guys on this forum and still to many fantasies to explore to consider that.

 

Thanks for being brave and sharing! It can happen to anyone, and I'm sure hearing this story will help others make informed decisions.

[+ Snbrd]

I went to a sex party in summer 2018. A few days later the organizer emailed the attendees (at least the ones for whom he had email addresses) and revealed that one guest had since informed him that he tested positive for chlamydia. He relayed that it was undetectable and easily treated. While happy my test was negative I was impressed that the infected party reported it to the host and that he in turn reached out attendees. A tip of the hat to Barcode and others like him for being candid and responsible!

[tanman4u]

So since most of the most common STIs can be transmitted orally as easily as anally, I can see where someone on PREP or someone who is already HIV+ and undetectable from meds might tend to go the bareback route. Why not? Who wants to suck a condom wrapped dick? Who wants to wrap it up before getting head? If I could just as easily get infected orally and I'm already HIV+ or on PREP what would I be protecting myself against?

[RomanticRick]

So since most of the most common STIs can be transmitted orally as easily as anally, I can see where someone on PREP or someone who is already HIV+ and undetectable from meds might tend to go the bareback route. Why not? Who wants to suck a condom wrapped dick? Who wants to wrap it up before getting head? If I could just as easily get infected orally and I'm already HIV+ or on PREP what would I be protecting myself against?

Put another way, would it make sense to ask -- for someone having anal sex with someone HIV undetectable or on PrEP, is the risk level same as oral sex? Just wondering.

[tanman4u]

Undetectable means pretty much untransmittable.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Put another way, would it make sense to ask -- for someone having anal sex with someone HIV undetectable or on PrEP, is the risk level same as oral sex? Just wondering.

 

FYI, I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on television.

 

Anal sex is always more risky than oral. More opportunity for microscopic skin tearing, etc.

 

In the grand scheme of things, we now understand that if you're HIV+ with a zero-viral load (on meds) that you're almost definitely not going to transmit the virus to someone else. That's awesome, but it also requires a leap of faith in believing that someone is on those meds and keeping up with their health as they say they are. This is why PrEP is a tool that any HIV-, sexually active guy needs to take.

 

As always, the responsibility for your own health falls on your shoulders.

[LivingnLA]

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are both easily transmittable via anal, oral, and vaginal condomless sex. They both are also capable of creating localized colonies in the throat and rectum. They both also have high rates of asymptomatic presentation in human males. Lastly, both also have treatment resistant strains slowly spreading in the public.

 

If you suck cock without a condom or don't use a dental dam when rimming or lick pussy, there are multiple STIs that may infect you or the person you're having sex with, so it's important to know all of this and make informed choices. Rectum and throat swabs are standard practice for any good STI testing routine for men who have sex with men. If you engage in any type of unprotected receptive oral sex, you should make sure throat swabs are part of your testing routine. The same goes for engaging in any unprotected anal play and rectum swabs. Blood and urine tests are not sufficient. The frequency of testing is something to discuss with your doctor. If you cannot be open and honest with your doctor, find a new doctor. If you can't be honest with yourself, change! Life is full of risk and part of being a mature adult is making informed choices about those risks.

Edited March 15, 2020 by LivingnLA

[Ryan Roman]

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are both easily transmittable via anal, oral, and vaginal condomless sex. They both are also capable of creating localized colonies in the throat and rectum. They both also have high rates of asymptomatic presentation in human males. Lastly, both also have treatment resistant strains slowly spreading in the public.

 

If you suck cock without a condom or don't use a dental dam when rimming or lick pussy, there are multiple STIs that may infect you or the person you're having sex with, so it's important to know all of this and make informed choices. Rectum and throat swabs are standard practice for any good STI testing routine for men who have sex with men. If you engage in any type of unprotected receptive oral sex, you should make sure throat swabs are part of your testing routine. The same goes for engaging in any unprotected anal play and rectum swabs. Blood and urine tests are not sufficient. The frequency of testing is something to discuss with your doctor. If you cannot be open and honest with your doctor, find a new doctor. Life is full of risk and part of being a mature adult is making informed choices about those risks.

 

You need to be open and honest with all of your health care providers if your a professional. If you hire professionals, make sure you go every 3 months for a regular STI check up. If you have the slightest sense something is wrong, see a health care provider. We are all responsible for our sexual health.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

You need to be open and honest with all of your health care providers if your a professional

 

This. This x100.

 

If you can't be honest with a healthcare pro about your sexual behaviors, you really shouldn't be having sex in the first place.

[+ OliverSaks]

I would amend your statement to:

“If you can’t be honest with your healthcare provider about your sexual behaviors, find another provider with whom you’ll be comfortable talking.”

 

This. This x100.

 

If you can't be honest with a healthcare pro about your sexual behaviors, you really shouldn't be having sex in the first place.

[+ Reisr30]

Get tested monthly if you're going to be very sexually active. Get the 10-panel. Don't skimp on it.

 

Does most insurance cover monthly testing? Just curious with people’s experience.

[mike carey]

I would amend your statement to:

“If you can’t be honest with your healthcare provider about your sexual behaviors, find another provider with whom you’ll be comfortable talking.”

Quite so, Oliver, but there are two sides to the preparedness to be honest. One, as you rightly identified is being prepared to be honest with the person who is currently your primary healthcare provider, the other is being prepared to be honest with any health care worker. If the issue is the provider, change them, if the issue is what you are prepared to say, change yourself. Of course, this is not just an issue for sex workers. It applies equally to anyone with any degree of shame or fear about how their behaviour will be perceived: gay people in a homophobic environment, women seeking reproductive health services in a conservative area, and no doubt others.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Does most insurance cover monthly testing? Just curious with people’s experience.

 

No. Actually, I don't believe any do.

 

You either need a creative doctor or you cover this out of pocket.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I would amend your statement to:

“If you can’t be honest with your healthcare provider about your sexual behaviors, find another provider with whom you’ll be comfortable talking.”

 

Agree.

 

My initial concern was that people have enough maturity/professionalism as sex workers to speak candidly with their health care provider.