Although sexual health and wellness awareness campaigns are more prolific than ever, there are still more gay men living with HIV than there has ever been. Having unprotected penetrative sex is the easiest way to pass on a sexually transmitted infection (STI), especially considering how many gay men are contract STIs at some point in their lives. All it takes is using a condom to significantly reduce your risk of STIs, and which is still important even if you already have HIV. Aside from not passing the disease onto your partners, you need to prevent other STIs as these are more difficult to treat if you’ve got HIV.
According to Gary Williams from Birmingham’s Healthy Gay Life project, some STIs, such as syphilis, may even accelerate the progression of your HIV. ‘We’re also seeing a rise in cases of hepatitis C, particularly in men who have HIV,’ Williams adds. ‘Hepatitis C is treatable in some cases but it’s a long and drawn-out process. So to prevent its spread, use a condom.’ There isn’t routine screening for hepatitis C, so it’s essential that you consult your GP if you think you’re at risk or have been exposed. Williams notes, ‘Gay men should have a check-up at least every six months at a sexual health clinic, because for some infections you will not see any symptoms.’ Let’s take a closer look at the STIs you may be exposed to:
1. Gonorrhoea: Also known as the Clap, this bacterial infection has symptoms such as a stinging sensation when you pee, and the need to “go” but finding you can’t urinate once you try. Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics.
2. Non-specific urethritis (NSU): Bacteria causes inflammation in your urethra, and often causes similar symptoms to gonorrhoea. You can develop this infection through frequent sex and masturbation, but the NSU can usually be treated using antibiotics.
3. Chlamydia: This bacterial infection can occur in your urethra, rectum or throat. You may find you experience discharge and pain when passing urine or pain in your testicles. However, chlamydia can be symptom-free so it’s important to get regular screenings. Again, it can be transmitted through sex with an infected person and is treated with antibiotics.
4. Genital herpes: Some men have no symptoms of this viral infection, but your wellbeing may be affected by painful blisters and ulcers on or around your penis or anus. You can catch genital herpes through oral sex if your partner has a cold sore on or in their mouth. Plus, you can catch the infection through close genital contact with someone who has genital herpes. Your GP can provide anti-viral tablets or cream, which should help the healing process and shorten the length of the episode.
5. Syphilis: If you have a painless ulcer, especially in the genital area, you may have contracted this bacterial infection. This ulcer is likely to go away on its own, but may leave behind other symptoms, such as a rash and swollen glands. Syphilis is very infectious in its early stages, and can be passed on by close skin contact during sex. There are treatment options available; antibiotic injections or tablets.
6. Genital warts: If you have sex with an infected person, genital warts may appear a few weeks or even months later. This common infection causes pinhead-sized growths, mostly on or around the head of your penis but also in and around your anus. These warts are easier to deal with early on, so talk to your doctor who will freeze them or use a cream to remove them.