What are the symptoms?

[Mount N Do]

http://www.queerty.com/one-four-gay-men-never-hiv-test-20160627

 

Passed by this and got me thinking...

 

If one hires occasionally and is always safe, is there a need to test? I personally have never been tested and as far as I know, I don't have any of the "symptoms". I wouldn't go to my Dr. For this for a myriad of reasons, chief among them, not coming clean with my habits. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to go tho I'm sure the information is readily available. Am I being ignorant?

[Kenny]

http://www.queerty.com/one-four-gay-men-never-hiv-test-20160627

 

Passed by this and got me thinking...

 

If one hires occasionally and is always safe, is there a need to test? I personally have never been tested and as far as I know, I don't have any of the "symptoms". I wouldn't go to my Dr. For this for a myriad of reasons, chief among them, not coming clean with my habits. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to go tho I'm sure the information is readily available. Am I being ignorant?

Anonymous testing is easy and widely available. Good advice is here: http://www.amfar.org/about-hiv-and-aids/hiv-testing/a-practical-guide-to-getting-tested-for-hiv/

[down_to_business]

OraQuick is a test you can buy at the local drugstore, pay cash for it so nobody knows, take it home and test yourself and get the results yourself at home in 20 minutes. No fuss, no sending off samples to a lab and waiting, no involving anyone else.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

Even playing safe, I think it still is good to be tested. my insurance covers the test so I ask for the test with the other bloodwork during my annual physical. And since I get tested every year, my physician asks questions about my sexual health.

[+ nycman]

If one hires occasionally and is always safe, is there a need to test?....Am I being ignorant?

 

Oh baby...yes....Yes...YES!

 

Most people with HIV have no clue that they are infected.

 

I'm not saying you are.....but...

 

"Knowledge = Power"

 

It's still true 30 fucking years later!

 

If you 're having sex...get tested...frequently.

[+ glennnn]

I've only been having gay sex for 8 months, and it has all been safe, except the times I swallowed cum. I went to a nearby LGBT Center to get HIV tested anonymously and I was clear. Coincidentally, I got vaccinated for hepatitis while I was there. It was all free or paid by my insurance. I'm only able to hire about four times a year, is a biannual HIV test often enough? What do you guys advise?

[rvwnsd]

As others have stated, you should get an HIV test. Google "anonymous HIV testing in [name of the county or town in which you live], [name of state in which you live]" and you will find clinics that can help you.

[TruthBTold]

I think that you are fairly safe with that routine. As I understand it, even when you have sex your usual sex act is oral sex. Except in the most unusual of circumstances (cuts in the mouth, bleeding gums, etc) oral sex has a very low transmission rate. And that assumes that your sex partner has HIV to begin with.

Of course, the risk of transmission goes up substantially if your oral sex becomes anal. If you have sex and you are just not at ease, just call your physician and describe the circumstances and see what he has to say. Or have a test done just to put your mind at ease (either by going to a doctor's office or doing as noted above, a home testing kit.

[Guy Fawkes]

Yes!

http://www.queerty.com/one-four-gay-men-never-hiv-test-20160627

 

Passed by this and got me thinking...

 

If one hires occasionally and is always safe, is there a need to test? I personally have never been tested and as far as I know, I don't have any of the "symptoms". I wouldn't go to my Dr. For this for a myriad of reasons, chief among them, not coming clean with my habits. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to go tho I'm sure the information is readily available. Am I being ignorant?

[+ Gar1eth]

OraQuick is a test you can buy at the local drugstore, pay cash for it so nobody knows, take it home and test yourself and get the results yourself at home in 20 minutes. No fuss, no sending off samples to a lab and waiting, no involving anyone else.

 

Just as an FYI-the Oraquick is a snapshot of where you were 3 to 4 months ago. So if you have a true negative on the Oraquick test, that means you weren't infected three to four months ago. Most testing places have newer tests that can identify infections between one month and two weeks after.

 

It's good to be tested routinely every 3 to 6 months if you aren't in a monogamous relationship because as we know, condoms are not 100%. These routine visits would also be a good time to check for other STD's.

 

There is a place called Out Of The Closet. It's a chain of thrift stores that also incorporates HIV and STD testing. There is one in Ft. Lauderdale. In Seattle the services are free although they like donations. Also in Seattle the testing can be either confidential or anonymous. I don't know what the monetary policies or the anonymous/confidential policies are in Ft. Lauderdale.

 

I don't know if their testing protocols are the same in all the states. In Seattle they will do a rapid HIV which I believe has a month window for detection. They'll also send off blood work for a 10 day to 2 week detection test. They'll send off blood for syphilis testing. They'll also do oral and rectal gonorrhea and chlamydial testing.

 

The one place they fail is they don't do urine gonorrheal/chlamydial testing. They say they don't have the money for that, and that most people are symptomatic. The problem is not everyone is symptomatic.

 

You should check them out. There's one in Ft. Lauderdale and in Wilton Manors.

 

http://outofthecloset.org/locations/

 

Gman

[rvwnsd]

The Centers for Disease Control has a testing site locator

 

https://gettested.cdc.gov/

[LivingnLA]

http://www.queerty.com/one-four-gay-men-never-hiv-test-20160627

 

Passed by this and got me thinking...

 

If one hires occasionally and is always safe, is there a need to test? I personally have never been tested and as far as I know, I don't have any of the "symptoms". I wouldn't go to my Dr. For this for a myriad of reasons, chief among them, not coming clean with my habits. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to go tho I'm sure the information is readily available. Am I being ignorant?

 

Define "playing safe?"

 

Do you engage in genital contact without a condom and your hand? There are STIs that can be communicated simply by touch.

 

Do you engage in oral sex without a condom? Every known STI is communicable via oral sex, though the probability of transmission varies for each based on a variety of factors.

 

Do you engage in anal or vaginal sex without a condom? Every known STI is communicable via anal and vaginal sex, though the probability of transmission varies for each based on a variety of factors.

 

Since you've never been tested, how sexually active have you been in your life? As a male American, if you're over the age of roughly 28, you almost certainly (roughly 80-90%) are a carrier of HPV and about a 1 in 6 chance of having HSV2 or HSV1.

 

The reality is that many men are frequently asymptomatic (no physically observable symptoms) for nearly every known STI until they are very far along in their disease development.

 

Sexually active adults have an ethical responsibility to be tested, at least annually, depending on how frequently they engage in sexual activity with a variety of partners and the types of activities they engage in with them. Otherwise, they are lying when they say they're HIV- and STD/STI free since there's no way they can actually know that without recent complete testing.

 

And speaking of, it's also important to get oral and anal swab tests if you engage in unprotected penetration orally or anally. The reason is because two very common STIs are able to create localized colonies that do not show up in the standard tests. So, it's possible for people to have either of these STIs localized in their throat or rectum and not be aware of it except for perhaps a sore throat sometimes for oral colonies and occasional rectal bleeding for anal colonies.

 

Please see the CDC's 2015 guideline's Q&A on all of this stuff. If you cannot talk to your doctor, find another one, check your local public health clinic, or search for a STD/STI local lab. Remember, it isn't just your health at risk. As a married person, you're responsible for the person you're married to as well as the person or people you're having sex with outside your marriage.

[LivingnLA]

I've only been having gay sex for 8 months, and it has all been safe, except the times I swallowed cum. I went to a nearby LGBT Center to get HIV tested anonymously and I was clear. Coincidentally, I got vaccinated for hepatitis while I was there. It was all free or paid by my insurance. I'm only able to hire about four times a year, is a biannual HIV test often enough? What do you guys advise?

 

The risk of HIV communication via unprotected oral sex is low but not impossible. More importantly, there are other STIs that are very easily transmitted via unprotected oral sex. You need more than just an HIV test. If you only engage in unprotected oral sex and presumably unprotected handjobs, you should have a standard panel of STI tests plus oral swabs. And yes, twice a year is a reasonable testing regime for you so long as you make sure testing is at least 30 days, and preferably at least 45 days after the sexual activity.

[Juan Vancouver]

Absolutely yes! And yes.

 

Admittedly you are having sex with high risk partners, also... you are sexually active.

 

Regular testing is the responsible thing every adult should do regularly to continue having the right to be sexually active with other humans. Regular testing shows respect for yourself and your partners, not to mention detection or early detection of some diseases will save you a lot of money and heartache. I hope you won't find out in 20 years that you have had Syphilis and now your brain is gone to pot.

 

If you are fucking, get tested.

 

And for God's sake, I am not only taking about HIV. I hope it is clear for everyone reading this thread that you must have a full STI screen regularly. While some infections sometimes are healed by your body, some others, if left untreated will wreak absolute havoc on your body.

 

Knowledge is power. Having sex is a right that should be earned by being responsible.

[seaboy4hire]

If you are having sexual relations you need to get tested for EVERYTHING! Just because you dont show symptoms doesnt mean your in the clear! You need to find a dr you can honest and open with 110%! They arent mind readers and can only go off what you tell them. This infiltrates me that people think they are good to go just because they arent showing symptoms. It's very irresponsible and puts others at an unfair risk of catching something and spreading it further!

 

Hugs,

Greg

[jjkrkwood]

Testing is ALWAYS Prudent !

[+ glennnn]

Let me be clearer! My tests last month included a full STD panel with mouth and anal swabs. I get it! Thank you all for your concern and for keeping us all on a clean, healthy track.

[marylander1940]

http://www.queerty.com/one-four-gay-men-never-hiv-test-20160627

 

Passed by this and got me thinking...

 

If one hires occasionally and is always safe, is there a need to test? I personally have never been tested and as far as I know, I don't have any of the "symptoms". I wouldn't go to my Dr. For this for a myriad of reasons, chief among them, not coming clean with my habits. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to go tho I'm sure the information is readily available. Am I being ignorant?

 

http://www.sharegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/oh-yeah-gif-obama.gif

 

As an active gay men it's a good idea to get tested for all the big ones HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis twice per year, if you were an escort I would suggest 3 times per year even if you have no symptoms.

[TruthBTold]

Let me be clearer! My tests last month included a full STD panel with mouth and anal swabs. I get it! Thank you all for your concern and for keeping us all on a clean, healthy track.

 

Wonderful!!!

[LivingnLA]

http://www.sharegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/oh-yeah-gif-obama.gif

 

As an active gay men it's a good idea to get tested for all the big ones HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis twice per year, if you were an escort I would suggest 3 times per year even if you have no symptoms.

 

Yes, sexually active adults should at least be tested annually. Those that engage in male on male sexual activity should get the hepatitis vaccines. They should also get oral and anal swabs if unprotected oral or anal sex occurs.

 

Escorts are a high risk category and depending on the configuration of their business, it would make sense to at least have quarterly testing done. if they engage in unprotected oral sex, which I imagine many/most do, they really need to become hyper aware of the symptoms and decide for themselves and their clients if quarterly is sufficient. And they also need to realize that a large percentage of men are asymptomatic for quite a few STIs so even if they triage a client, they very well may catch something and pass it on before they're even aware of it. In such cases, I hope they're professional enough to contact such clients and give them a heads up.

 

Porn actors are another high risk category and since unprotected activity is basically the default in more genres of porn today, their testing schedule is measured in weeks, not months or quarters. But, such testing becomes expensive very quickly.

[marylander1940]

Yes, sexually active adults should at least be tested annually. Those that engage in male on male sexual activity should get the hepatitis vaccines. They should also get oral and anal swabs if unprotected oral or anal sex occurs.

 

Escorts are a high risk category and depending on the configuration of their business, it would make sense to at least have quarterly testing done. if they engage in unprotected oral sex, which I imagine many/most do, they really need to become hyper aware of the symptoms and decide for themselves and their clients if quarterly is sufficient. And they also need to realize that a large percentage of men are asymptomatic for quite a few STIs so even if they triage a client, they very well may catch something and pass it on before they're even aware of it. In such cases, I hope they're professional enough to contact such clients and give them a heads up.

 

Porn actors are another high risk category and since unprotected activity is basically the default in more genres of porn today, their testing schedule is measured in weeks, not months or quarters. But, such testing becomes expensive very quickly.

 

oops... I forgot about that on and it's scary and silent.

 

Thank you for pointing that out.

[TrenoLvr]

Do not forget the outbreak of meningococcal meningitis is continuing in Los Angeles and New York with some deaths. A meningococcal vaccine is available at many pharmacies. This is usually considered a disease of college age men but since this is the age group daddies are hiring they should consider getting this vaccine

[marylander1940]

Do not forget the outbreak of meningococcal meningitis is continuing in Los Angeles and New York with some deaths. A meningococcal vaccine is available at many pharmacies. This is usually considered a disease of college age men but since this is the age group daddies are hiring they should consider getting this vaccine

 

But that according to hippies and Michele Bachmann it's caused by vaccinations...

[LivingnLA]

Do not forget the outbreak of meningococcal meningitis is continuing in Los Angeles and New York with some deaths. A meningococcal vaccine is available at many pharmacies. This is usually considered a disease of college age men but since this is the age group daddies are hiring they should consider getting this vaccine

 

Great reminder! Like hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis is a serious and growing issue among men who have sex with men, in large part because of all the barebacking. If you're in a major city with a significant gay population, get the vaccine, even if you only do oral sex. You have no idea if the guy you're sucking was barebacking last week.

[LADoug1]

These statistics are absolutely astounding! I can't fathom that after 30 years so many just don't get it.

 

Plus the OP asked about symptoms. Any comments on that?