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Bug chasing

Bug chasing is the practice of intentionally seeking HIV infection through sexual activity. It is also called 'pozzing', 'stealthing', 'breeding' and 'gift giving'. The term seems to have first appeared in a 2003 Rolling Stone magazine article: "Bug Chasers: The Men Who Long to be HIV+", but it would be naive to think bug chasing wasn't happening before this time.

Motivations behind bug chasing can be complicated, but reasons and thinking include

an ultimate taboo (one of the most extreme sex acts left)
the excitement in pursuing a dangerous activity
intimacy and eroticism (sexually stimulating)
a fetish
a sexual fantasy
validation and acceptance
a shared identity (sense of belonging) within the HIV-positive community
to rebel or transgress against accepted social norms/ behaviours
HIV fatigue (easier to have HIV than prevent getting it)
low self-esteem or worthlessness
trauma

There is likely a tension between the fantasy and actual behaviour and, for many, bug chasing is just a sexual fantasy not acted upon. Bug chasing is believed to be a minority practice and/ or not representative of GBMSM and the wider LGBTQ+ community.

Bug chasing with multiple partners increases the risk of contracting different HIV virus strains. These may be resistant to medication, making HIV more difficult to treat and potentially leading to serious health issues. One should be mindful that those engaging in bug chasing may be struggling with mental health issues, problematic drug use, and/ or addiction.

Given the widespread success of HIV treatment and PrEP and greater awareness of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) bug chasers have fewer opportunities to contract HIV. In porn, it's also worth mentioning that when a guy asks another to give him his 'poz load', you don't know if they are both HIV positive or if one is HIV positive on meds but the other is on PrEP.

Updating this November 2023, one of our volunteers (who states his HIV-positive status on his app profile) says he's asked every few months if he'll poz someone including coming off his meds to do so. He has also been asked in person but this is rare.

Bugchasing | Wikipedia
Reinfection with HIV | i-base
Resistance and changing your treatment | THT

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
Undetectable = Untransmittable
HIV treatment

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