ALL ABOUT STDS

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a lot of great information about STDs on their website. While their website isn't a substitute for a doctor's visit, it's better than "Dr. Google" or asking Siri! Check out their page here: ALL ABOUT STDS FROM THE CDC

Syphilis can infect your penis, butt hole area or mouth (or vagina if you are a trans man). Syphilis looks like a sore, but it usually is not painful. It is common among men who have sex with men, so it is important to get tested for it. It can be cured with antibiotics, but can make you very sick if you don't get it treated.

Condoms can protect your from Syphilis.

Read more about Syphilis here: Syphilis

Gonorrhea can infect your penis, throat or butt hole. You may have pain when your urinate, or puss from your penis/butt hole--or a sore throat, when you have Gonorrhea. Some people have no symptoms at all but are still contagious.

Condoms do a good job of protecting against Gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics and can usually be cured--however, there are some types of gonorrhea that are very hard to kill with antibiotics. This is why it's still important to use condoms.

You can read about symptoms and treatments for Gonorrhea here: Gonorrhea

Chlamydia is a STD that usually causes burning when you pee and sometimes a clear discharge from your penis. You can also get it in your butt hole. Some people have no symptoms from Chlamydia, but they can still spread it to others.

Condoms do a good job of protecting you from Chlamydia.

You can read about Chlamydia at here: Chlamydia

Hepatitis--which just means inflammation of the liver--can be caused by three different sexually transmitted viruses.

Hepatitis A is transmitted during rimming--so it's transmitted butt to mouth. You can get a vaccine to prevent Hepatitis A, which all men who have sex with men should definitely get.

Hepatitis B is transmitted just like HIV--through cum and blood. You can can a vaccine to prevent Hepatitis B, which all men who have sex with men should definitely get. Hep B can be prevented by using condoms.

Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily through blood--IV drug use and blood transfusions.

There are vaccinations to prevent Hepatitis A & B that all men who have sex with men should definitely get.

Using condoms can protect you from Hepatitis B and using a dental dam during rimming can protect you from Hepatitis A.

Read more about Hepatitis: HEPATITIS

Shigella is an STD you get from rimming (Hepatitis A is the other one you can get from rimming).

If the guy you are rimming has Shigella he will pass it to you when you rim him.

Shigella causes diarrhea and it is very contagious.

The only way to prevent getting Shigella when rimming is to use a dental dam. A dental dam is a flexible thin piece of latex that you lay over your partner's hole before rimming. You can make your own by cutting a condom of at the tip end and then cutting lengthwise down the condom).

Read more about Shigella here: CDC Facts about Shigella

Genital Herpes is a very common virus that infects 1 in 4 gay/bi men. Some will never have symptoms, others will get small painful sores that last a couple weeks before going away.

There's no cure for Herpes, but it isn't dangerous to your overall health. There are treatments to control soutbreaks. Condoms can help protect you from herpes but only on the areas that are covered.

Read more about Herpes here: Genital Herpes

HPV is a very common sexually transmitted virus that is spread by skin to skin contact, It mostly causes genital and anal warts, but in rare cases it can cause anal cancer, throat cancer, penile cancer and cervical cancer (trans men).

Now, just because you get HPV/genital warts, it DOES NOT mean you will get cancer-- so don't freak out. Only a small number of people who get the HPV virus will ever get cancer.

There are treatments to remove warts and there is a vaccine that can prevent the warts, which can also prevent the HPV related cancers. Condoms can help protect you from HPV, but they only protect the area of skin that is covered.

Read more about HPV here: HPV/Genital-Warts/Ana/Throatl Cancer

Crabs are little bug like creatures that get into public hair (and any other body hair) and cause itching. They are very contagious and can be a little tricky to get rid of, so you have to follow the instructions for treatment very carefully and you may need several rounds of treatment to get rid of them completely. Read more about crabs here: CRABS (PUBIC LICE)