Contagions and notification

[BuckCanucked]

So I was just at the dermotologist after discovering bumps on my shaft. Viral infection, MCV, not a big (sex) life changing issue, but contagious. The bumps are painless but aestheically displeasing. Not an STI per se but troubling. I had four frozen off. 

Given my intimate knowledge of my own sexual history (such as it is) and the incubation period, I am 95% certain of the provider who passed it to me.

So, obviously, my first reaction is to let the provider know. However, the symptoms are just bumps. No pain, no oozing, just bumps. Without treatment, it resolves in a year but as long as bumps are visible, it is contagious. I had mine removed to eliminate the contagion and to prevent self-recurrence.

The provider may be aware. Its not deadly, herpetic, or even HPV. It could resolve on him in weeks (if he's had it awhile) or months (if he too had just contracted it.) I doubt its worth shelving (for him) escort work but he could simply indicate therapeutic massage work while things go their course. That would be the most responsible thing for him IMO but I take responsibility for my own health and behavior. 

This is why I'm cautious generally. I'm mostly a side that insists on safe play when it happens. I understand the risks, so I've gone the LTR and paid service routes since starting to explore MSM adventures a few years ago - for a modicum of additional confidence. I came of sexual age when HIV was acknowledged as spreading to 'genpop'. Forget middle school filmstrip illustrations. We jumped from pregancy and herpes scares to almost certain death between my 14th and 18th years. Maybe paranoia and PTSD but absolutely no random BB for me. And as a provider, you may be on meds for the worst thing STIs and HIV , but even if I trust "negative, on prep" (a big if) can I trust the last client they were with? 

So, there it is. My first virus spread by sexual contact and its not even an STI. My sex life is tragically vanilla. (Tragically, and thankfully.)

I'm going to let the provider know (notification, not accusation) but I won't be returning. 

Be safe out there. Especially you guys dealing with the public. Thank you for your service. 😉

 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

3 minutes ago, BuckCanucked said:

I'm going to let the provider know...

That is the responsible thing to do.  I, too, have contracted a few treatable STIs in the past.  Most men, especially professional masseurs and escorts, are thankful to be notified.  They bump up their routine testing to get tested right away when notified of a possible STI encounter.

To avoid awkwardness and accusation, I reach out with "I tested positive for XXX, please be sure to get yourself tested soon to be sure you don't have it.".  I don't say anything like "you probably gave it to me".

[+ nycman]

19 minutes ago, BuckCanucked said:

Not an STI per se but troubling.

Ummm…minor point, but if you got an infection from sexual activity…..it’s an STI.

“You can also catch molluscum if you have sex with someone who has it. Many molluscum infections in adults occur this way.“

https://www.cdc.gov/molluscum-contagiosum/about/index.html

It’s not technically classified as an STI because kids can get it rubbing up against each other on the playground, and no one wants to freak out parents telling them their kid got an STI. But if you’re an adult and you got it on your dick from rubbing up against another adult in bed…it’s an STI.

Semantics, true but semantics are important when discussing STIs. 

[BuckCanucked]

9 minutes ago, nycman said:

Semantics, true but semantics are important when discussing STIs. 

Fair point. I did read that when the bumps are found around the genital area in children, its a marker for physicians to investigate SA. But yes, I said that because its also spread through more or less casual contact. In fact I allowed that other 5% possibility from the health club. But I think that's more "pregnancy from a toilet seat" territory than a real likelihood.

[+ PhileasFogg]

13 hours ago, nycman said:

It’s not technically classified as an STI because kids can get it rubbing up against each other on the playground 

Until you called it molluscum, it didn’t connect that my grandkids contracted it on their arms and torso 

[BuckCanucked]

3 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

Until you called it molluscum, it didn’t connect that my grandkids contracted it on their arms and torso 

Yeah, again, it is considered a mild infection and common among roughhousing kids, and teammates apparently. (I'm very nearly an expert now, as things growing on one's willy tends to get one googling like a Karen trying to justify not vaxxing her kids. 😒) 

[AtlantaDude]

22 hours ago, BuckCanucked said:

So I was just at the dermotologist after discovering bumps on my shaft. Viral infection, MCV, not a big (sex) life changing issue, but contagious. The bumps are painless but aestheically displeasing. Not an STI per se but troubling. I had four frozen off. 

Given my intimate knowledge of my own sexual history (such as it is) and the incubation period, I am 95% certain of the provider who passed it to me.

So, obviously, my first reaction is to let the provider know. However, the symptoms are just bumps. No pain, no oozing, just bumps. Without treatment, it resolves in a year but as long as bumps are visible, it is contagious. I had mine removed to eliminate the contagion and to prevent self-recurrence.

The provider may be aware. Its not deadly, herpetic, or even HPV. It could resolve on him in weeks (if he's had it awhile) or months (if he too had just contracted it.) I doubt its worth shelving (for him) escort work but he could simply indicate therapeutic massage work while things go their course. That would be the most responsible thing for him IMO but I take responsibility for my own health and behavior. 

This is why I'm cautious generally. I'm mostly a side that insists on safe play when it happens. I understand the risks, so I've gone the LTR and paid service routes since starting to explore MSM adventures a few years ago - for a modicum of additional confidence. I came of sexual age when HIV was acknowledged as spreading to 'genpop'. Forget middle school filmstrip illustrations. We jumped from pregancy and herpes scares to almost certain death between my 14th and 18th years. Maybe paranoia and PTSD but absolutely no random BB for me. And as a provider, you may be on meds for the worst thing STIs and HIV , but even if I trust "negative, on prep" (a big if) can I trust the last client they were with? 

So, there it is. My first virus spread by sexual contact and its not even an STI. My sex life is tragically vanilla. (Tragically, and thankfully.)

I'm going to let the provider know (notification, not accusation) but I won't be returning. 

Be safe out there. Especially you guys dealing with the public. Thank you for your service. 😉

 

Buck - just hoping to avoid this.   I also play safe safe safe (when at all).   Did you likely get this from rubbing penises together?  Is that how it would spread?   And I suppose, at the time the provider's penis had no bumps showing?   Thank you for bringing this to our attention.