Sexually Transmitted Infections [STIs]

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just enjoy sex and not have to worry about catching anything or passing anything on? Unfortunately as gay and bisexual men, sexually transmitted infections are very much a part of the scenery insofar as our sex lives are concerned.

If you are having sex, especially if it’s with more than one partner, a regular sexual health check-up can detect infections early, leading to quick treatment with less chance of passing on any infection.

If you notice any of the following in yourself, notice or are told about any of the following in your sexual partner, you AND your partner(s) should have a sexual health check-up:

• Pain when urinating, brownish urine and needing to urinate more
• Lumps, sores, blisters, swelling, or pain in or on mouth, throat, groin or genital areas
• Pain during sex
• Pain at climax, or brown, green, yellowish, bloody ejaculate
• Yellowish skin
• Bugs in body hair
• Rash on, itching on, or discharge from genitals and butt

Some infections require both partners to be treated at the same time. This stops the passing of infection back and forth between one another.
For more information about the types of STIs that are common among gay and bi men, click on the following links to learn more.

Syphilis
Other infections

(If you are worried that you may have caught something already, our best advice to you is to make an appointment with your doctor or nearest STI clinic. Look under resources for walk-in and appointment STI based testing sites.)