NAPR: What's the deal with male/male STD issues?

StrawberryAlarmClock · February 2012

Reading the link that KC_13 shared in my circumcision post below, I hit a quote that bugs me every time I read/hear it.

I've often seen on medicine commercials and in medical journals statements like the one below:

However, the effect of male circumcision on reducing HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men is unclear. (https://jama.ama-assn.org/content/306/13/1479.full)

In a commercial about an STD medication, there was fine print at the bottom of the screen stating that they could not make claims regarding male/male relations. When I give blood they ask if I've had sex with a man who has had sex with a man.

Are they making a generalization that males tend to have unprotected sex and therefore STDs would be more common? In that case, shouldn't they just say "persons who engage in unprotected sex..." ??

Does this strike you as odd that male/male relations would have different medical standards than other combinations in which parties swap fluids? Am I missing something?

boogerbearoriginal · February 2012

It's my understanding that anal sex allows for greater transmission of diseases because the nature of the anus/intestinal tract. It can tear easier, and is designed to absorb.

I have also heard that female/female sex is the lowest risk for HIV transmission.

Obviously anyone engaging in unprotected sex is at risk for contracting STDs.

StrawberryAlarmClock · February 2012

Booger+Bear:

It's my understanding that anal sex allows for greater transmission of diseases because the nature of the anus/intestinal tract. It can tear easier, and is designed to absorb.

Ah. This makes sense now. TBH, it really bothered me because I felt like it was a prejudice. This explains that it is a true medical difference. Thanks.

QuiltingBee · February 2012

I believe, when it comes to medication commercials, that that disclaimer is due to the fact that they haven't actually studied the medication in men who have sex with men. Therefore, they can't promise that it's effective in those situations, even if there is no reason to believe that the data couldn't be extrapolated.

QuiltingBee · February 2012

QuiltingBee:

I believe, when it comes to medication commercials, that that disclaimer is due to the fact that they haven't actually studied the medication in men who have sex with men. Therefore, they can't promise that it's effective in those situations, even if there is no reason to believe that the data couldn't be extrapolated.

Although, there is likely some prejudice in the fact that this population is not incuded in the study (whether by oversight or because the folks involved in the study are afraid that they will be denied funding or support if men who have sex with men are included.

Bonidiebabe · February 2012

It makes no sense to me because women have anal sex too.

kcisthebombdotcom · February 2012

Bonidiebabe:
It makes no sense to me because women have anal sex too.

This!

Temp123197812503460 · February 2012

I thought it was about the exchange of fluids, when someone has sex with a man you get more fluids from them than you would from a woman, and thus more risk of contracting a STD.As a woman you are at higher risk having sex with a man (getting fluids), so it matters if the guy is someone who has had sex with men (also higher risk) or only with women (somewhat lower risk).Obviously men can get stds from women but especially for some like HIV the transmission rate is lower even in the case of unprotected sex.

Katieh6 · February 2012

It's not prejudice when it is fact. Gay men have a higher incidence of HIV then the average population. Gay men tend to have multiple sex partners and that puts them at a higher risk. I am so sick of everyone being so PC. I'm over it. This comes from someone whose bestfriend is a gay man. We've been friends for 20 years. My fav brother in law is also gay and I love gay men but they will both tell you that gay men tend to be slutty. It's not offensive it's fact.

Katieh6 · February 2012

You are right having anal sex makes them at higher risk but it's also te fact that they in general ( not all) have more partners. My best friend who I talk to daily is actually pretty prude for a gayan but still has had many partners. He's the first one to say that they are promiscuous as a population.

StrawberryAlarmClock · February 2012

Bonidiebabe:
It makes no sense to me because women have anal sex too.

Good point!

StrawberryAlarmClock · February 2012

Katieh6:
It's not prejudice when it is fact. Gay men have a higher incidence of HIV then the average population. Gay men tend to have multiple sex partners and that puts them at a higher risk. I am so sick of everyone being so PC. I'm over it. This comes from someone whose bestfriend is a gay man. We've been friends for 20 years. My fav brother in law is also gay and I love gay men but they will both tell you that gay men tend to be slutty. It's not offensive it's fact.

Beg to differ, love. Because you know two slutty men that does not make them all that way. Plus, for every gay man you find that says their culture is slutty, I can find you 100 straight females who actually are sluts.

StrawberryAlarmClock · February 2012

Katieh6:
You are right having anal sex makes them at higher risk but it's also te fact that they in general ( not all) have more partners. My best friend who I talk to daily is actually pretty prude for a gayan but still has had many partners. He's the first one to say that they are promiscuous as a population.

Take into account that ignorance and bigotry have forced the LGBT community into a clandestine society. It must be very very hard to find Mr./Ms. Right when you cannot openly and comfortably date.

Katieh6 · February 2012

I 100 percent agree with that.

+diana82+ · February 2012

Katieh6:
You are right having anal sex makes them at higher risk but it's also te fact that they in general ( not all) have more partners. My best friend who I talk to daily is actually pretty prude for a gayan but still has had many partners. He's the first one to say that they are promiscuous as a population.

Well if one "gayan" says it it must be true...

easjer05 · February 2012

Katieh6:
It's not prejudice when it is fact. Gay men have a higher incidence of HIV then the average population. Gay men tend to have multiple sex partners and that puts them at a higher risk. I am so sick of everyone being so PC. I'm over it. This comes from someone whose bestfriend is a gay man. We've been friends for 20 years. My fav brother in law is also gay and I love gay men but they will both tell you that gay men tend to be slutty. It's not offensive it's fact.

Oddly, you knowing two gay men who are with multiple partners does not equal fact in relation to the entire population. It equals anecdotal evidence, just as if I were to say that I know two sorority sisters who say the sorority members have sex with each other all the time and it's common for all sororities to do that doesn't make it fact. Seriously?

The gay men I know are all in monogamous relationships, but that doesn't likewise mean all gay men are in monogamous relationships. Do you even know how offensive and ridiculously homophobic you sound, your best friend and favorite brother in law notwithstanding?

+diana82+ · February 2012

Oh, and FTR, my "gayan" cousin has been in a relationship for like 20 years. So yay!!! for anecdotal evidence.

bh2720 · February 2012

Katieh6:
It's not prejudice when it is fact. Gay men have a higher incidence of HIV then the average population. Gay men tend to have multiple sex partners and that puts them at a higher risk. I am so sick of everyone being so PC. I'm over it. This comes from someone whose bestfriend is a gay man. We've been friends for 20 years. My fav brother in law is also gay and I love gay men but they will both tell you that gay men tend to be slutty. It's not offensive it's fact.

are you high?

find me a source that can prove that gay men being slutty is a "fact", lol. just because you know all of two gay men, does not make this a fact.

I'd love to say that anyone who says that they are sick of people being PC is an @sshole. But since I don't know everyone or even the majority of people who say sh*t like that, I can't actually confirm that they are all @ssholes.

Jermysgirl · February 2012

I personally know a lot more than two members of the LGBTQ community, and most of them are in long term, committed relationships. One of the women has only ever been with her current partner and none of the rest of them were or are particularly "slutty". At least no sluttier than the straight people I know. And as a whole, the straight people aren't as careful with protecting against STDs. Anecdotal evidence for the win!!

lyssbobiss · February 2012

Wow. And that's your "best friend?" You are a terrible friend.

It's not offensive if it's fact.

emsumm · February 2012

*Scribbles furiously on post-it*

Kitiara5512 · February 2012

Katieh6:
It's not prejudice when it is fact. Gay men have a higher incidence of HIV then the average population. Gay men tend to have multiple sex partners and that puts them at a higher risk. I am so sick of everyone being so PC. I'm over it. This comes from someone whose bestfriend is a gay man. We've been friends for 20 years. My fav brother in law is also gay and I love gay men but they will both tell you that gay men tend to be slutty. It's not offensive it's fact.

I also have lots of gay friends, including DH and I's best friend in highschool, but all the sluts we know are either female or straight males. It may be fact that male on male has more chances of stds, but that is more related to uncircumsized peni being more likely to carry bacteria and viruses when not properly maintained and the again more bacteria and viruses contracting more easily during anal sex, and doesn't have jackshit to do with gay men. YOU are prejudiced in your reasoning.

Kitiara5512 · February 2012

Katieh6:
You are right having anal sex makes them at higher risk but it's also te fact that they in general ( not all) have more partners. My best friend who I talk to daily is actually pretty prude for a gayan but still has had many partners. He's the first one to say that they are promiscuous as a population.

I have had more than ten partners, but I am not a gay male. Wait, let me check my pants. Yup, not a gay male.

MadameFancyPants · February 2012

I don't know much about donating blood other than I did it once in high school and it'll be a looooooooong time before I do it again for various reasons. The thing that I don't understand is if they are testing all donated blood for infections/STDs and anything else, why would it matter who you've had sex with?

A friend of mine (who tried to donate the day I did) was really upset by this policy. He was disqualified because he'd had sex with another male. Both he and that guy had only ever had sex with each other. Unless HIV was transmitted to them through another route the would technically be in the clear.

I'm sure there is tons of research behind their policies but it also does seem a bit discriminatory all at the same time.

StatlerWaldorf · February 2012

Straight women are all slutty. They have a much higher HIV rate than lesbians.

chach916 · February 2012

Kitiara5512:

Katieh6:
You are right having anal sex makes them at higher risk but it's also te fact that they in general ( not all) have more partners. My best friend who I talk to daily is actually pretty prude for a gayan but still has had many partners. He's the first one to say that they are promiscuous as a population.

I have had more than ten partners, but I am not a gay male. Wait, let me check my pants. Yup, not a gay male.

Does 10 partners mean slutty? If so, then I guess all women are sluts.

Heather R · February 2012

StatlerWaldorf:
Straight women are all slutty. They have a much higher HIV rate than lesbians.

lololllllllllllll

DebateThis · February 2012

MadameFancyPants:
I'm sure there is tons of research behind their policies but it also does seem a bit discriminatory all at the same time.

The FDA hasn't changed their stance on gay men donating blood since the widespread panic about AIDS transmission in the 80's/prior to the detection methods we have in place today. It seems highly discriminatory bc it IS discriminatory w/no real medical reasoning behind it any more. The UK just lifted their ban on gay men donating blood products a year or two ago.

More info here: https://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-12-05/Federal-policy-blocks-many-gay-men-from-blood-donation/51650544/1

Kitiara5512 · February 2012

chach916:
Kitiara5512:

Katieh6:
You are right having anal sex makes them at higher risk but it's also te fact that they in general ( not all) have more partners. My best friend who I talk to daily is actually pretty prude for a gayan but still has had many partners. He's the first one to say that they are promiscuous as a population.

I have had more than ten partners, but I am not a gay male. Wait, let me check my pants. Yup, not a gay male.

Does 10 partners mean slutty? If so, then I guess all women are sluts.

I know at least one gay man who has had fewer male partners than I have.... but he sure cut a swath through the girls in ROTC with us before he came out.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

The user and all related content has been deleted.

InlovewithJHK · February 2012

Booger+Bear:

It's my understanding that anal sex allows for greater transmission of diseases because the nature of the anus/intestinal tract. It can tear easier, and is designed to absorb.

I have also heard that female/female sex is the lowest risk for HIV transmission.

Obviously anyone engaging in unprotected sex is at risk for contracting STDs.

This!

Want a personalized experience?

NAPR: What's the deal with male/male STD issues?

Re: NAPR: What's the deal with male/male STD issues?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards