Working at an HIV/STD testing site, we hear this from folks who come in all the time: “If I had an STD, I would know it. ”
The fact is, many of us have rightfully gotten to where routine HIV testing is the norm, which is good. As LGBT folks who are sexually active, it’s what we do: Every three-six months, we go to one of the many testing centers around Philadelphia and get a rapid test that gives you results in 15-20 minutes. Then most of us go on about our lives until next time.
But what about all the other sexually transmitted diseases? Without testing, how would you know that something isn’t quite right? A lot of people seem to think they would notice some burning and/or discharge, but in reality that’s not always the case.
What’s also important to consider is that we LGBT folks are an oral bunch, and though not recommended, many people still play unprotected when deep kissing a partner’s parts. The bottom line is simple: Even with condoms or without penetration, getting gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis can and does happen to many more individuals than does HIV.
Philadelphia has the unfortunate distinction of being ranked fourth in the nation in reported cases of gonorrhea (according to CDC figures from 2011). This obviously goes well beyond the queer community, but it’s important to understand the particular ways we may be at risk — and what to do about it.
A lot has to do with the asymptomatic nature of some of these infections, and where they’re located in your body. If you have gonorrhea and/or chlamydia in your throat or rectum, you aren’t going to get a discharge or burning from your urethra. In fact, you probably won’t have any noticeable symptoms. Even if you were to get infected in your urethra, there are sizable percentages of both men and women who don’t experience the classic symptoms we have been taught to recognize.
The same applies to a primary syphilis lesion in your mouth or rectum. Since a primary lesion is painless, it could come and go (the lesion lasts an average of three weeks) before you even noticed it was there.
Let’s step back and do a little STD 101: Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis are bacterial, so they can be cured with antibiotics, but not just any antibiotics. That (insert antibiotic name here) you got from your doctor last year for your sore throat might get rid of your symptoms, if you have them. But it’s not going to cure you of those STDs, no matter how many pills you take or how many days you take them. Only specific antibiotics work on specific infections. If you don’t take the right medications, you’ll still have the infection and can still give it to your partners.
Statistics show that one in four young people will get an STD before age 25. While some of the infections may occur through unprotected anal or vaginal sex, many people forget that they can also be passed on through oral sex. In this case, the condom you put on after the oral foreplay may not have offered anywhere near the 100-percent protection for which you were hoping.
Something else to consider is the connection between having an STD and an increased chance of contracting HIV. First, there is the obvious fact that the more sexual partners you have, the greater your chances of acquiring all sexually transmitted infections (including herpes, genital warts and HIV). But, if you unknowingly have an STD, and you are exposed to HIV, your chances of the HIV taking hold increases. That’s because the very immune-system “fighter cells” battling that STD are the same cells HIV attaches to when you get infected. This makes things pretty easy for the HIV, wouldn’t you say?
April is STD Awareness Month. By this point, we hope we’ve made you aware. The next step is getting screened, which is easy to do! Both gonorrhea and chlamydia screening require a urine sample and (depending on the type of sex you’re having) a throat and rectal swab. A syphilis screening requires a blood draw. These are all routine screenings that your doctor can perform. And if you don’t have a primary-care physician (or aren’t completely comfortable asking your provider for this), there are plenty of places, including Mazzoni Center’s Washington West Project at 1201 Locust St., that provide these tests for free. In addition, you’ll have the chance to talk with a knowledgeable counselor, who can answer any of your questions or concerns in a judgment-free environment. What’s not to like about that?
Let’s say you’ve gone ahead and been tested. If you do have symptoms of an STD, or if one of your recent sex partners has tested positive for one, you need to get to your doctor or a health clinic for treatment ASAP. Letting an STD go untreated will only increase the damage it can do to your body, your reproductive system and even your brain. Not getting treated also increases the likelihood that you will pass it on to other partners. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, make sure you follow through on your treatment — as they only work if you follow the directions and complete the full dose.
This part should go without saying, but be sure to talk to your partners about your result. It may not be an easy conversation to start, but it’s important to show them the consideration they deserve. After all, you’d want to know if the situation were reversed, right? And you want to prevent any further spread of infection. If you’re nervous, you can practice what you’re going to say, even write a letter to them if that’s easier. And if you simply can’t face telling someone directly, there’s a free online service called InSpot (www.inspot.org) that lets you send an anonymous e-card to notify someone they need to be tested for an STD.
STD testing is important for you and for the health of our community. Let’s take charge of our health, understand those things that can hurt us — and take the right steps to protect ourselves, so we can truly enjoy optimal health and wellness.
Jake Cook and Ken Magano are HIV-prevention counselors at Mazzoni Center.