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If you think you have a STI

If you think you have a STI…

• Don’t have sex
• Read this very helpful section
• And get to a clinic

And yes, you can Google your symptoms until the cows come home to try and find out what you have but, frankly, this is bloody useless. So, at the risk of repeating ourselves, get yourself to a clinic!

You're not the first to get an STI

If you ever thought that you were the first or only person to have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) – think again; they have been around for thousands of years. Gonorrhoea was first mentioned in the Bible and the name of the disease was given by the second-century Greek physician Galen. The origin of syphilis is less clear but by the 16^th Century it was making its way across Europe.

Anybody can get a STI from someone who already has one. The trouble is that STIs are usually passed on by someone who doesn’t know that they have an infection and so just asking your partner won’t protect you. The majority of STIs enter the body through tiny abrasions, sores or cuts in the body, many of which can be invisible to the eye. A few STIs only itch, some are painful, some are permanent and many can be serious if left untreated.

Effective prevention, protection and treatment will significantly reduce the likelihood of getting STIs or, if you do get them, will reduce or eliminate the harm they can cause.

Over recent decades, HIV has affected the lives of gay men everywhere and has changed the way we think about sexual health. Not only do we have a better understanding of our health needs, but many sexual health services have responded to the need for improvement. None of us really want to dwell on STIs, but being aware on what’s going on leaves you free to concentrate on having a good time.

Be proactive

Being sexually healthy is not only about dealing with sexual problems as they arise, it’s also about avoiding problems in the first place. Most sexual activity carries some kind of risk of getting an STI and, while never pleasant, many gay men see them as an occupational hazard.

You significantly reduce the risk of getting or passing on STIs by:

• Prompt visit to a sexual health clinic if you think you have a STI
• Vaccination against hepatitis A and B, and get tested for Hepatitis C.
• Routine clinic check-ups every 3-6 months. If you have unprotected sex, use drugs or have had a recent STI, we suggest you have check ups every 3 months
• Using condoms when fucking
• Not sharing injecting equipment

STI signs and symptoms