no i'm celebrate 

2 hours ago, glitch said:

Ok maybe I worded that poorly. My point is that HIV is just one of a number of STIs. To me it makes little sense to take a long term medication, which isn't actively treating/controlling a chronic condition, especially when you're still at risk of catching any number of other STIs. The hyper focus on HIV in the gay community makes sense given its history, but it often feels like it becomes the main talking point in conversations around sexual health. Other conditions which can cause long term health issues, like Syphilis, Herpes or some antibiotic resistant strains of Gonorrhea, feel somewhat overlooked in these conversations.

The big difference between HIV and Syphilis is that Syphilis is curable and HIV is not. That is why there is more focus to prevent contracting by it.

 

Also this is not just a "Gay" issue. Rise of contracted HIV and other STI diseases rapidly increase in heterosexual population.

Another thing is, heterosexual population is less likely to get testes, therefore there is higher risk of spreading STI.

Heterosexuals were also far more likely to be diagnosed late, meaning damage to the immune system has already begun.

Dont they have a vaccine that you get twice a year or every two months? Seems better than prep

I take it for 3 days before s$$ if I know it might happen, and then for 5-7 days after.

I would like to sometimes, to be honest. I'm 32, and sometimes I get jealous of all the guys having crazy hookups all the time and i feel like im missin out and will regret it later. But I'm concerned because PrEP is not completely protective against everything and im too aware of all the STDS u can get, and I'm also a bit worried about the side effects of taking it for so long.

I'm also scared of going on the PrEP plan and my parents finding out because my healthcare plan is connected to them. . To get prep here is also too many appoinments. MD, Psychologist, STDS tests. Too much stuff*

 

Edited March 22, 20251 yr by AvadaKedavra

6 minutes ago, AvadaKedavra said:

I would like to sometimes, to be honest. I'm 32, and sometimes I get jealous of all the guys having crazy hookups all the time and i feel like im missin out and will regret it later. But I'm concerned because PrEP is not completely protective against everything, and I'm also a bit worried about the side effects of taking it for so long.

I'm also scared of going on the PrEP plan and my parents finding out because my healthcare plan is connected to them. Sex is a big taboo in my family and they dont know im a hunty. To get prep here is also too many appoinments. MD, Psychologist, STDS tests. Too much stuff*

 

that's why i'm married to god

 

I am not huge on hook-ups but I have the pills. I do prep on demand in case i want to have some fun. 

Nope my boyfriend and I are exclusive. 
 

Spoiler

I'm 28 and used it in my earlier 20s for maybe a year tops.

 

I'm not sexually active so no, at the moment.

4 hours ago, Jack! said:

I'm from Scotland, and my GP is older and a little bit lazy I won't lie.  As I said I know there are ways to get it on a paid prescription but at the moment I'm okay without it. 

PrEP is available for free in the UK but through sexual health clinics specifically. an average GP and prescription isn't how you access it. you can search for your nearest NHS sexual health clinic online and book a face to face PrEP appointment. they will literally hand you a supply for a few months right there which is why you wouldn't receive a prescription. routine face to face appointments with ongoing testing is then how you continue to receive it. 

Yes. I don't trust guys even with condoms.

6 hours ago, dumbsparce said:

No. I like getting to know and building a certain level of trust with someone before I take them to the garden of eden.

and when they don't know they have HIV and unknowingly infect you then what, this is not a case of trust sister

 

5 hours ago, Jack! said:

I'm from Scotland, and my GP is older and a little bit lazy I won't lie.  As I said I know there are ways to get it on a paid prescription but at the moment I'm okay without it. 

prep is free in the UK my good sister just find the nearest clinic to you and book an appointment 

https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/sexual-health-clinics

2 hours ago, Radical Pessimism said:

that's why i'm married to god

 

you're a priest?

2 hours ago, mike_int said:

The big difference between HIV and Syphilis is that Syphilis is curable and HIV is not. That is why there is more focus to prevent contracting by it.

 

Also this is not just a "Gay" issue. Rise of contracted HIV and other STI diseases rapidly increase in heterosexual population.

Another thing is, heterosexual population is less likely to get testes, therefore there is higher risk of spreading STI.

Heterosexuals were also far more likely to be diagnosed late, meaning damage to the immune system has already begun.

I knew syphilis was curable if diagnosed early (thanks Sex ED in High School) didn't know about the latter. I don't hear much abt HIV in the news anymore (just that Mpox outbreak a while ago) so I thought it was more under control, damn.

So, one should also take more precaution than just condoms even with straight people?

Spoiler

asking bc I've never done it yet and I don't want to **** it up and get some STD the first time whenever/if that happens

 

38 minutes ago, RideOrDie said:

and when they don't know they have HIV and unknowingly infect you then what, this is not a case of trust sister

wait good point.

Spoiler

To make matters worse, those nurses who gave us Sex ED talks at High Schools told us they knew of people who had HIV and didn't tell their partners so they keep having unprotected sex with them- 

 

Edited March 22, 20251 yr by Illyboy
quoted the whole thing instead of just what i wanted to comment on oops

I was doubting to open this thread bc of like prejudice and stuff like I expected to see ppl commenting on how they **** like 8 dudes a week so they take prep or some shi but I actually found cool stuff, glad I didn't let thebad thoughts win.

 

Anyways, as someone who has 0 experience (iykwim), is PrEP a common thing and does it have side effects in general? Would you say that you need PrEP on top of using a condom (talking about topping here, but if bottoming I can see the trust issues of the other guy taking it off without you knowing or sth). Also where do y'all even buy condoms like I've seen some supermarkets sell them but idk if they're like good or should I get them from drugstores instead? Not like I think I'll need to use them anytime soon* (lol) but it's still good to know this stuff ig

*I reacted to dumbsparce's post before seeing RideOrDie's comment bc I do share that view that I don't feel comfortable with casual *** so I'd rather do it within a relationship but I can now see why people where laugh-reacting it

Spoiler

help does it reek that I'm a prude  It just feels weird to talk abt this **** on a public forum

 

20 minutes ago, Illyboy said:

you're a priest?

6 minutes ago, Illyboy said:

I knew syphilis was curable if diagnosed early (thanks Sex ED in High School) didn't know about the latter. I don't hear much abt HIV in the news anymore (just that Mpox outbreak a while ago) so I thought it was more under control, damn.

So, one should also take more precaution than just condoms even with straight people?

  Hide contents

asking bc I've never done it yet and I don't want to **** it up and get some STD the first time whenever/if that happens

 

syphilis is curable at all stages, but very damaging if left untreated for long. and i mean like 5 to 10 years long. 

HIV is not in the news that much anymore because it's just not deadly anymore as long as you take your medication, so there's no need for media to sensationalize it. mpox is only a concern if you are in certain parts of africa. 

 

4 minutes ago, Illyboy said:

I was doubting to open this thread bc of like prejudice and stuff like I expected to see ppl commenting on how they **** like 8 dudes a week so they take prep or some shi but I actually found cool stuff, glad I didn't let thebad thoughts win.

 

Anyways, as someone who has 0 experience (iykwim), is PrEP a common thing and does it have side effects in general? Would you say that you need PrEP on top of using a condom (talking about topping here, but if bottoming I can see the trust issues of the other guy taking it off without you knowing or sth). Also where do y'all even buy condoms like I've seen some supermarkets sell them but idk if they're like good or should I get them from drugstores instead? Not like I think I'll need to use them anytime soon* (lol) but it's still good to know this stuff ig

*I reacted to dumbsparce's post before seeing RideOrDie's comment bc I do share that view that I don't feel comfortable with casual *** so I'd rather do it within a relationship but I can now see why people where laugh-reacting it

  Reveal hidden contents

help does it reek that I'm a prude  It just feels weird to talk abt this **** on a public forum

 

prep is common for gays, no it doesn't have a lot of side effects, yes use a condom if you are worried about other STIs, and it's fine to buy them from supermarkets

 

now i also know some of you gays who are like "i don't take prep and be a hoe like y'all! i only have sex with condoms!" are also gagging and slobbering on cawks without any condoms obviously and when you get chlamydia or gonorrhea or syphillis in your throat and a trip to the clinique then what? what good all that condom did for you? 

 

get your preps, doxypreps, HPV vaccines, regular checkups etc. 

Doesn't it make you intensely sick when you take it for the first time?

1 hour ago, Illyboy said:

I knew syphilis was curable if diagnosed early (thanks Sex ED in High School) didn't know about the latter. I don't hear much abt HIV in the news anymore (just that Mpox outbreak a while ago) so I thought it was more under control, damn.

So, one should also take more precaution than just condoms even with straight people?

  Hide contents

asking bc I've never done it yet and I don't want to **** it up and get some STD the first time whenever/if that happens

 

Syphilis is curable also in late latent stage however the treatment usually takes 4 weeks of daily antibiotic treatment. 

In first stages it is easily curable with one or two injections.

 

23 minutes ago, DarkGa said:

Doesn't it make you intensely sick when you take it for the first time?

Not really. Current prep medication or even HIV medication is very well tolerated by most of people and doesn't have any negative effect on internal organs such as liver or kidney.

Of course it depends on individual and their genetic per-disposition or lifestyle choices.

4 hours ago, Distantconstellation said:

Dont they have a vaccine that you get twice a year or every two months? Seems better than prep

There is injectable "prep" you take every 2 months, however it is not that common yet, however prep medication even in long-term use doesn't have negative effect in internal organs such as liver or kidney unless individual have some genetic per-disposition, already suffers from some illness or have bad lifestyle.

 

 

It is also good to mention there is DoxyPep which is now thankfully getting common as pre and post exposure medication for syphilis, chlamydia and in some studies also chlamydia. 

It is basically on-demand antibiotic treatment which you take right before or right after up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse.

6 hours ago, glitch said:

Ok maybe I worded that poorly. My point is that HIV is just one of a number of STIs. To me it makes little sense to take a long term medication, which isn't actively treating/controlling a chronic condition, especially when you're still at risk of catching any number of other STIs. The hyper focus on HIV in the gay community makes sense given its history, but it often feels like it becomes the main talking point in conversations around sexual health. Other conditions which can cause long term health issues, like Syphilis, Herpes or some antibiotic resistant strains of Gonorrhea, feel somewhat overlooked in these conversations.

Most other DSTs are curable though, so if you get tested regularly you can treat them. Shaming people doesn't work hun

I was. I stopped taking it in Nov 2024.  I recently got tested by the program who gives it and my primary doctor both negative.  Haven't been sexually active the past 2 weeks, but still decided to get back on it.  Stay safe guys!