12 MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT PrEP: Information for gay and bisexual men
PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is a daily drug that can be taken by people who don’t have HIV to prevent them from being infected with the virus. It can prevent HIV infection even if the virus enters the…
Oral Sex
Many men associate oral sex with safe sex. Oral sex includes stimulating a penis (blow job) or an anus (rimming) with your mouth.
Oral sex can put you at risk of getting one or more sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
HIV
To date there has not been a confirmed case of someone becoming HIV-positive through oral sex (blow job) published in scientific literature. However, it remains possible for transmission to occur if the person performing the blow job has small cuts or sores in his mouth and his partner cums in his mouth. There is no risk of HIV infection for the guy receiving the blow job. Rimming does not pose a risk of HIV infection, provided there is no blood present. Remember that someone who is HIV-positive, on ARV treatment and undetectable poses no risk of passing HIV onto you but other STIs can still can passed on through oral sex.
Mary Unfaithful: Keeping HIV out of the affair
Poems, plays, songs, movies and series explore a subject that never seems to go out of fashion because it’s been a sticky topic throughout history: Infidelity. Maybe you’ve been cheated on, or maybe you’ve been the cheater. Perhaps you just…
Viral Load and CD4
Your immune system protects your body against illness and infections. The most important cells in your immune system are called CD4 cells.
A CD4 count tells us how many CD4 cells there are in a drop of your blood. The higher your CD4 count, the stronger your immune system is.
Your viral load is a measurement of how much the HI virus (the virus that causes HIV) is present in your body. The viral load can go up to millions.
Your CD4 count and viral load influence each other:
Traditional Healers & HIV
In most rural areas in South Africa, traditional healers are the preferred and most accessible healthcare providers. A clear distinction needs to be made between the words ‘cure’ and ‘treat’. While a traditional healer may assist in strengthening your immune…
The 3 Stages of HIV Progression
Acute Infection Stage This is the period shortly after someone has been infected with HIV. During this stage the virus is highly concentrated in your body, so you are at higher risk of transmitting HIV to others. Within 2-4 weeks…
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
What is PrEP? Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an HIV prevention strategy where HIV negative people take medications daily to prevent them from becoming positive if they are exposed to the virus. PrEP has been shown to significantly reduce the risk…
Anal Sex
Anal sex is common among both men and women. For many people the anus and surrounding areas are very sensitive and sexually arousing. Some people can experience orgasm from anal penetration.
The anus may be stimulated or penetrated with a finger, penis, tongue or sex toy. However, since the anus does not lubricate itself when stimulated (like a vagina does) any form of anal penetration requires lubrication. Never insert an object with sharp edges or jagged points into the anus which could cause small cuts or tears. Rather use commercially available toys such as a dildo. Importantly, make sure that any toys you use for anal penetration have a ‘base’ or a ‘foot’ to prevent the toy slipping in too deep and making withdrawl difficult. Start small. Never try to insert an object that causes discomfort or pain. Never insert any glass object into your anus. Wash all sex toys thoroughly with dishwashing liquid and warm water.
Understanding HIV
When someone becomes HIV positive, he has been infected by a particular virus. It does not mean that he is sick. The HI virus will harm his immune system (which protects him against germs) very slowly over many years. Many…