Syphilis on the rise in LOS

[PeterRS]

....... and if an aircraft crashes, thats it. Boom! End of life in many cases. But with Prep you may be virtually protected from HIV but not from all the other STDs out there. Thats what I do not understand about those believing Prep is the be all and end all of protection. We know Thailand has seen a considerable rise in cases of syphilis in msm. But more problematic is likely to be gonorrhoea. Two thirds of countries around the word have reported gonorrhoea cases that now resist all down antibiotics. Personally I dont like those odds.

This is not the case in Thailand - yet. But it is true in Myanmar, China, Indonesia and India. Will Thailand be far behind?

https://mosaicscience.com/story/gonorrhoea-gonorrhea-STI-Thailand-clap-USA-AMR-super/

[NIrishGuy]

Just on the point of testing and my reading recently that Thai authorities have boosted the Country’s existing STI infection / treatment surveillance system is anyone aware do the hospitals etc still ask for a copy of your ID / Passport if you present to get tested there ?  I know this certainly was the case in Bkk when I presented a few times and I was able to bluff it with various excuses about passports being left in hotels etc and gave a duff name etc ( to access the tests which all came back negative thankfully) but is this still the case I wonder as it must surely be yet another reason for some farang at least there NOT to bother testing ?   Although I laugh as when I ring my local UK NHS anonymous STI clinic for random regular testing the very first question they ask is "what's your name and best contact number please'  - so much for anonymous !

Oh and before anyone asks why bother giving a duff name this was a few years back now and there was talk ( and I still wouldn't totally dismiss it) of authorities holding lists of farang ( and Thai) name and address details ( of people within Thai or oversees) visiting or living in the Country with HIV / Aids etc so that "someday" should they ever decide to farang at least are simply turned away at the airport to reduce risk / cost to Thailand - paranoid perhaps but back then at least that was ( I felt) a fairly reasonable possibility ( see Singapore for example where 14,200 people had their HIV status "leaked" - albeit not by the Government, but is shows the lists had already been generated for "whatever" use later on at the whim of whatever Government might or might not get into power.

[DivineMadman]

Anonymous Testing

Thai Red Cross offers anonymous testing for HIV and STDs.  I don't know if Pulse Clinic does, but they seem pretty "woke", so one could check there as well.

SWING is an excellent support/health group for the gay & trans sex workers.  I don't know if they provide testing for customers or the general public, but they could be another source.

On/Off Use. 

As I understand it, going on/off PrEP is fine, as long as you follow the guidelines.  This means always getting tested - for HIV and kidney function - before starting/resuming and getting tested again when you stop.  Again, just to point out, PrEP can fuck up your kidneys if they are not healthy and kidney health has nothing to do with your sexual escapades.  So you can't really make a judgment about the state of your kidneys on your own.  So proper testing for HIV and kidney function, etc., is essential.  [I follow this particular regimen myself.]  It is not a drug that should treated like a recreational viagra.  

Do Not Let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good

PrEP is important and useful.  It does not protect against STDs and it doesn't promise 100% protection against HIV.  I am pretty sure, however, that the health professionals who work with sex workers in Thailand (and elsewhere), strongly advocate PrEP for those who are eligible.  When I read posts here sometimes the "oh it's imperfect" seems to drown out how good and important it is.  

The organizations that provide free PrEp and support to sex workers such as SWING, and Pulse for those who pay, and Thai Red Cross for anyone, make regular periodic testing a part of their PrEP programs.  There are bound to be exceptions, of course, but these guys/gals are actively taking care of their health.  Having a discussion with your guy about PrEP and where he goes for PrEP and testing is a perfectly fine thing to do.  

Because I have had the unpleasant task of accompanying an acquaintance to be tested for HIV where the results were positive, I almost always end up talking about PrEP with working guys I get to know.  

In my non-statistically valid sample of Hornet guys in Bangkok, identifying as "Negative on PrEP" does not mean they will necessarily bareback.  (applause!).  

 

[spoon]

1 hour ago, DivineMadman said:

Anonymous Testing

Thai Red Cross offers anonymous testing for HIV and STDs.  I don't know if Pulse Clinic does, but they seem pretty "woke", so one could check there as well.

SWING is an excellent support/health group for the gay & trans sex workers.  I don't know if they provide testing for customers or the general public, but they could be another source.

On/Off Use. 

As I understand it, going on/off PrEP is fine, as long as you follow the guidelines.  This means always getting tested - for HIV and kidney function - before starting/resuming and getting tested again when you stop.  Again, just to point out, PrEP can fuck up your kidneys if they are not healthy and kidney health has nothing to do with your sexual escapades.  So you can't really make a judgment about the state of your kidneys on your own.  So proper testing for HIV and kidney function, etc., is essential.  [I follow this particular regimen myself.]  It is not a drug that should treated like a recreational viagra.  

Do Not Let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good

PrEP is important and useful.  It does not protect against STDs and it doesn't promise 100% protection against HIV.  I am pretty sure, however, that the health professionals who work with sex workers in Thailand (and elsewhere), strongly advocate PrEP for those who are eligible.  When I read posts here sometimes the "oh it's imperfect" seems to drown out how good and important it is.  

The organizations that provide free PrEp and support to sex workers such as SWING, and Pulse for those who pay, and Thai Red Cross for anyone, make regular periodic testing a part of their PrEP programs.  There are bound to be exceptions, of course, but these guys/gals are actively taking care of their health.  Having a discussion with your guy about PrEP and where he goes for PrEP and testing is a perfectly fine thing to do.  

Because I have had the unpleasant task of accompanying an acquaintance to be tested for HIV where the results were positive, I almost always end up talking about PrEP with working guys I get to know.  

In my non-statistically valid sample of Hornet guys in Bangkok, identifying as "Negative on PrEP" does not mean they will necessarily bareback.  (applause!).  

 

Good to hear being on prep doesnt equate to ok to bareback on some people. Yes, prep is a great defend against HIV. I dont see anyone says otherwise. Condom did better, not just against hiv but against most std. Granted other std might hold the same fear as hiv does. Also a great point on Prep usage and frequent kidney check. 

[abidismaili]

On 5/11/2019 at 7:18 AM, Travellerdave said:

I go to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital for my HIV and syphillis tests. I’m always nervous waiting for the results, even though it’s years since I had unprotected anal sex. When I first visited Thailand 18 years ago I played Russian roulette many times, but got away with it.

I never have taken a test in my life. Maybe a good idea I start doing it. When you go to this hospital you have the answer within an hour, or how does it work?