STD’s.

[Akhaten]

Massage therapists can potentially spread skin diseases or infections through skin-to-skin contact. Some examples include:

1. Fungal infections (e.g., athlete's foot, ringworm)
2. Bacterial infections (e.g., MRSA, impetigo)
3. Viral infections (e.g., herpes simplex, HPV)
4. Scabies
5. Lice or pediculosis

It's essential for massage therapists to follow proper hygiene and sanitation procedures to protect both themselves and their clients from potential skin diseases or infections. If you have concerns, always discuss them with your massage therapist.   
Have you ever had a bad experience?

[+ EVdude]

You play, you pay. It’s just the way it is. A masseur can only do so much. They can’t test between every client. The potential list is very long. And the more interactive you are with your masseur, the greater the risk. May as well list the most common infectious ones…

COVID-19
Influenza 
RSV
Monkey Pox
Herpes
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis
Pubic lice
Scabies
Trichomoniasis
Chlamydia
HPV

I’ve had gonorrhea twice, once confirmed from a masseur because he was a stand up guy and called to alert me he had tested positive. 

[Figueroa7778]

HPV is also a big one that is often overlooked. One that causes anal and genital warts. Get your GARDASIL vaccines folks!

[soloyo215]

2 hours ago, Akhaten said:

Massage therapists can potentially spread skin diseases or infections through skin-to-skin contact. Some examples include:

1. Fungal infections (e.g., athlete's foot, ringworm)
2. Bacterial infections (e.g., MRSA, impetigo)
3. Viral infections (e.g., herpes simplex, HPV)
4. Scabies
5. Lice or pediculosis

It's essential for massage therapists to follow proper hygiene and sanitation procedures to protect both themselves and their clients from potential skin diseases or infections. If you have concerns, always discuss them with your massage therapist.   
Have you ever had a bad experience?

In that respect, no. The setup and the behavior of the masseurs I've hired have always followed good hygiene and safety measures.

There was only one time when the masseur recommended for me to proceed with the massage even when I mentioned that I was feeling sick, and later here in this forum I learned that it's not recommended to get a massage when you're sick. That has been the only less-than-ideal experience I've had. I never hired that masseur again.

Besides, the same applies to pretty much every event where you are in contact with other people's bodies, a great example is dance clubs and bath houses.

Edited May 30, 2024 by soloyo215

[SouthOfTheBorder]

2 hours ago, EVdude said:

You play, you pay. It’s just the way it is.

agree.  

and play frequent enough, well - it’s pretty much a certainty

current terminology is STI, not STD

[MeatHead]

Are there vaccines for hepatitis C? I just got mine for hepatitis A and B. 

[BuffaloKyle]

3 minutes ago, socurious said:

Are there vaccines for hepatitis C? I just got mine for hepatitis A and B. 

Hepatitis C

WWW.WHO.INT

---

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection. Acute HCV infections are usually asymptomatic and most do not lead to a...

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but it can be treated with antiviral medications.

[TallMuscl37]

On 5/30/2024 at 6:28 AM, Figueroa7778 said:

HPV is also a big one that is often overlooked. One that causes anal and genital warts. Get your GARDASIL vaccines folks!

I have had the full series myself over the last year. 
 

However I will say, a couple days after having had the last round of that and another vaccination the same day: I had like the worst lower back pain and had to go to the ER twice. I’ve had back pain before but, that was like I’ve never experienced. Idk why. Was hard to walk, hard to sit, hard to lay down. I couldn’t really see but a couple people for like 3 weeks. 

That said, I probably recommend taking it easy and not booking anyone the first 2-4 days after getting a vaccine. 
 

On 5/30/2024 at 4:52 AM, Akhaten said:

Massage therapists can potentially spread skin diseases or infections through skin-to-skin contact. Some examples include:

1. Fungal infections (e.g., athlete's foot, ringworm)
2. Bacterial infections (e.g., MRSA, impetigo)
3. Viral infections (e.g., herpes simplex, HPV)
4. Scabies
5. Lice or pediculosis

It's essential for massage therapists to follow proper hygiene and sanitation procedures to protect both themselves and their clients from potential skin diseases or infections. If you have concerns, always discuss them with your massage therapist.   
Have you ever had a bad experience?

I’ve been wanting to adopt a policy of ensuring all clients wash their hands and do mouthwash soon as they walk in the door (and me doing the same). However, most always show up hygienic fortunately. But it always just gives extra assurance of sanitation. Touching your steering wheel, door knobs, etc. can pick up germs…and if you touch yours or someone else’s dick and you or the other guy sucks it…not good. 
 

Also, showering after is always good practice. I like to shower after every appointment. I also spray down my hotel carpets and showers with Lysol/Odoban when I first arrive and after each shower/visit. 
 

What irks me off the most, is that some of the hotels I’ve used haven’t been as clean as I prefer. I try to keep it under $100 a night, but in some cities and especially in 2024: that’s getting really harder. All my favorite Hilton and Marriotts want half of my rate or more just to stay. I had a client pay for me a room at one of the actual Marriotts for one night with points, and I started to stay a 2nd night but it was going to be like $245. And I’m not trying to see 5 clients in a day to offset that.
 

I have to look harder to find a nice room at my price point lately.

Edited June 1, 2024 by Jarrod_Uncut

[+ FrankR]

If you are traveling, just be aware that M-Pox is still around. A more dangerous strain is spreading in Africa at the moment and will jump borders in the next few weeks. My friends in Southern Africa are rather concerned.

 

https://www.science.org/content/article/deadlier-strain-mpox-spreads-more-african-countries

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-chief-mulls-emergency-committee-mpox.html

Edited August 5, 2024 by FrankR

[Thelatin]

I was sitting at work one day and got a text from a provider saying "sorry bb".  I got up and showed the text to my coworker, who shook his head. Went to the urgent care, showed the text to this young doctor, who just shook his head lol.  Shot in my rear for syphilis.  I had some white spots in my throat, but got it soon enough that it wasn't detectable.  

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

3 minutes ago, Thelatin said:

I was sitting at work one day and got a text from a provider saying "sorry bb".  I got up and showed the text to my coworker, who shook his head. Went to the urgent care, showed the text to this young doctor, who just shook his head lol.  Shot in my rear for syphilis.  I had some white spots in my throat, but got it soon enough that it wasn't detectable.  

Kudos to that provider for doing the right thing by reaching out to you.

I've had to do the same myself several times (reaching out via text message to hookups, massuers, and escorts so they can know to get tested).  The first time was a bit of an emotional hurdle; but, I was pleasantly surprised with how many text message replies I received along the lines of: "Thank you for telling me, I'm going to get it checked this weekend".

[misterhumphries]

On 5/30/2024 at 4:52 AM, Akhaten said:

Massage therapists can potentially spread skin diseases or infections through skin-to-skin contact. Some examples include:

1. Fungal infections (e.g., athlete's foot, ringworm)
2. Bacterial infections (e.g., MRSA, impetigo)
3. Viral infections (e.g., herpes simplex, HPV)
4. Scabies
5. Lice or pediculosis

It's essential for massage therapists to follow proper hygiene and sanitation procedures to protect both themselves and their clients from potential skin diseases or infections. If you have concerns, always discuss them with your massage therapist.   
Have you ever had a bad experience?

HOLD UP! I'm late to the party, but I must protest!

Let's not mix terminology. A MASSAGE THERAPIST is licensed by the state in which he practices. He's completed at least 520 hours of academic study and clinical training. A legitimate massage therapist does not spread disease because there is no sex involved in a massage session.

However, a "masseur" who claims to have  a flair for understanding the male body and who is open to suggestion if the fee is right, may spread STDs if sexual contact is a part of the encounter and adequate effective precautions are not observed. And why blame the "therapist"? It takes two to tango.

It's an  uphill struggle to have massage therapy legitimized when the common horny gay man is so casual in lumping the two professions in the same category.