Hi, I am a 20 y/o gay guy and have had two previous sexual partners and am clean and have also had the HPV vaccine. I guess you could say I have what some would call an irrational fear of STDs. Nevertheless, I have been doing some sexual health research which has made for some pretty grim reading. Apparently 1 in 4 gay men have Herpes and it can be transmitted regardless of whether you use protection and even if the carrier is asymptomatic. I don't like those odds. How am I fucking supposed to stay disease free if any time I engage in protected sex I am still spinning a roulette wheel? Especially if half of people who have herpes don't even know they're infected. My straight friends seem to have regular, casual sexual encounters. Surely these risks are just as high for men who have sex with women? I am sorry, I know I am ranting a bit. It's just, I have just always considered myself responsible and it seems that short of abstinence, there is nothing I can actually do to protect myself.
The only sure fire way to stay disease free is to find some good gay porn and buy a flesh-light and or a dildo and and take care of business yourself. Yes, the risk for herpes is just as high for men who sleep with women.
If it's any consolation, check Wikipedia. Apparently a good 40% of adults have herpes, even in the countries with the lowest risk. Not sure if that will make you feel better or worse!
One thing I want to know is how do you not get it during oral sex and how do you make sure someone doesn't have it ?
If someone has oral herpes (usually HSV-1), it can be spread to the genitals. Genital herpes (usually HSV-2) can be spread to the mouth. Unfortunately, herpes can be asymptomatic and is contagious even if there are no sores. If someone has had symptoms in the past, even if they don't have them now, they can still shed the virus. Condoms, dental dams and female condoms offer some protection.
