STIs & HIV
STIs are Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Please note: I’m not a medical doctor. I’m NOT qualified to counsel you on ANY of the physical issues on this page. I CAN counsel you on the psychological issues (shame, guilt, love, lust, etc.) that these issues bring up for people, but I can’t, and won’t, in anyway, shape or form, offer medical advice. That said…
The most common sexually transmitted infections in the USA are:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphillis
I’m not going to spend too much time on these other than to say, get tested for them if you have sex–with your mouth, penis, or vagina. They can make your peeing hurt, a cough or sore throat happen, and they can do much larger damage such as blindness in later stage syphilis.
When you get tested at a Confidential or Anonymous testing site, they’ll ask you some REALLY INTRUSIVE and REALLY PERSONAL QUESTIONS such as “With who?” “How Many people?” “How many times?” How many times this way, that way?” “Do you sleep with women, with men, with both…?” (Like I said, really intrusive and personal questions. That’s something to expect, so, get it done, make sure your sex life is in good health!
What I’m GOING to spend time on is…
HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
This one can kill you.
HIV is not spread by (You can’t get it by) (I copied this directly from two different places on the CDC’s web page, so when you see two different bullet points saying similar things, that’s where I added both sources together):
You cannot get HIV by:
- By working with or being around someone who has HIV.
- From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet seats, or through everyday things like sharing a meal.
- Saliva, tears, or sweat. There is no documented case of HIV being transmitted by spitting.
- From insect bites or stings.
- Insects, including mosquitoes. Studies conducted by CDC researchers and others have shown no evidence of HIV transmission from insects.
- From donating blood.
- Closed-mouth or “social” kissing.
- From a closed-mouth kiss (but there is a very small chance of getting it from open-mouthed or “French” kissing with an infected person because of possible blood contact).
- Air or water.
- Casual contact like shaking hands or sharing dishes.
Sexual Ways to GET HIV
- Receptive Anal Intercourse without a condom (considered the highest risk sexual practice)
- Receptive Vaginal Intercourse without a condom
- Insertive Anal Intercourse without a condom
- Insertive Vaginal Intercourse without a condom
- Receptive Oral, or GIVING HEAD (considered low risk practices)
- Insertive Oral, or GETTING HEAD (consdidered low risk practices)
Anilingus (Rimming), is not a major method in HIV transmission. What I do have to watch out for is something called: “Crypto” or “Cryptosporidiosis” which is a parasite that can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and a fever, and yes, it can actually kill me if I have HIV and my T Cells are below 200. Talk to a Doc for more information on this, as this is my limit of knowledge on it.
More specific information should really be directed towards your doctor, as, I’m not a medical doctor, and give no medical advice. I do work with medical doctors who specialize in HIV and internal medicine, so I have direct information from them, but from me to you, check out:
- http://www.thebody.com/ For Boat Loads of HIV information.
- http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/oralsex.htm For the CDC Fact Sheet on Oral Sex and HIV transmission.
- http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm For the CDC “Basic” information of HIV site.
- http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/at-risk.htm For the CDC HIV “Brochure” of HIV Risk Factors.
Non Sexual Ways to Get HIV:
- Sharing needles, syringes, rinse water or other equipment used to prepare drugs like Crystal Meth.
- Being born to woman who has HIV. HIV can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding.
- NOTE: With proper medical care a child being born with HIV is now a super low risk, AROUND 2% CHANCE, that’s it.
- Being “stuck” with an needle that has the HIV virus on it.
- Don’t share razors or toothbrushes because of they may have the blood of another person on them. Remember, blood is a major way in which HIV is transmitted.
Best prevention is not to have sex. Yes. That’s true. But if you’re GOING to have sex, Docs and HIV counselors will recommend:
For Intercourse:
- Wear a condom (don’t double up on them, as THAT could actually rip one of the condoms).
- Use lubrication that can be used with condoms.
For Oral Play:
- Don’t gargle, brush or floss your teeth for 2+ hours before you plan on giving head. WHY. Because these things can actually open up a cut or sore that’s in your mouth (even if you can’t see it). If that cut or sore is opened up, and contains blood, that blood combined with seminal or vaginal fluids COULD transmit the HIV virus.