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Take Charge: a Gay Man's Guide to Sexual Health

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Take Charge: a Gay Man's Guide to Sexual Health HOWOFTEN HOWDOTHEY HOWDOIKNOWIF WHICHTEST? SHOULDIGET TESTFORIT? INEEDTHETEST? TESTED? blood If your last test was negative or HIV you’ve never been tested Syphilis blood A must for sexually active gay men At least annually, Gonorrhea and throat swab or every 3-6 months Chlamydia of the throat If you perform oral sex if you have more than Gonorrhea and one sex partner rectal (butt) swab If you have receptive anal sex Chlamydia of the (bottom) rectum (butt) Gonorrhea and Chlamydia of urine screening or If you have insertive anal sex (top) the urethra (penis) urethral swab or receive oral sex If you are HIV positive or were born Hepatitis C blood between 1945 and 1965 Find testin location at: www.knowmystatus.org www.hivtest.org h Guid t l Healt exua t S STD TESTING d Gui an’ T a M ak Charg: A G Ga men and Sexual Health There are things you need to do to maintain a The sooner you know your status, the better your happy, healthy sex life—like getting tested for HIV treatment options are. and other sexually transmitted diseases on a Don’t wait for symptoms. Many STDs have no regular basis. symptoms at first. The only way to know if you have As you may know, gay men are at increased risk of HIV or another STD is to get tested at a doctor’s becoming infected with HIV. Gay and bisexual men office or a health department clinic. account for more than two-thirds of all new HIV cases in Texas. Gay men also face increased risk for STDs other Ga accountaccount men forfor than HIV. STDs increase the chances of HIV infection. If you have HIV, having an STD makes it 2/3 more likely that you will pass HIV to someone else. of all new HIV infections Many STDs are easily curable, and all are treatable. What kind o test d ga men need? When it comes to getting tested for gonorrhea and oral sex or have receptive anal sex (bottoming), be chlamydia, a urine test may not be enough for gay sure to get a throat and/or rectal swab to test for men. A urine test cannot detect gonorrhea or gonorrhea and chlamydia. chlamydia in the throat or anus. If you perform When it comes to getting tested for HIV and other STDs, once isn’t enough. Sexually active gay men should test at least once a year, more oen if you have more than one partner or your partner has GetGet other partners. Some STDs are preventable through vaccination. VaccinatedVaccinatedHepatitis A The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hepatitis B recommends that gay and bisexual men be HPV vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. The (if you’re under 26) HPV vaccine is also recommended for men up to age 26. Som guy onl g t th doct when somethin i wron. Dont b that gu! It is important that you feel comfortable discussing and to correctly use a condom every time for anal all aspects of your health as a gay man with your or vaginal sex. doctor. If you’re not comfortable “coming out” to Condoms are also effective in preventing STDs. your doctor, consider finding a new doctor. However, condoms may not protect you against You can also talk to your doctor about other sexual some STDs like genital herpes, which can be health issues, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis passed via skin-to-skin contact in areas not covered (PrEP) for HIV, erectile dysfunction, low by a condom. testosterone, and prostate health. You can also help reduce your risk for HIV and For sexually active gay and bisexual men, the most other STDs by limiting the number of sex partners effective ways to prevent transmitting or becoming you have, choosing sexual activities that carry less infected with HIV are to be on antiretroviral risk for HIV/STD infection, and talking with your medications (to either treat or prevent infection) partners openly and honestly about HIV and STDs. DSHS Stock No. 4-257 (Rev. 2/2015).
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