Barebacking is playing roulette with HIV

In previous articles on gay barebacking we’ve looked at the consequences of becoming infected with HIV today.  If you are infected nowadays, and you’re diagnosed promptly, then it is true that you can expect a near normal lifespan [1], and a near normal quality of life [2].

BUT, you still don’t want to become infected with HIV.  You’ll have to have a lot of inconvenient check-ups and tests throughout your life.  At some point you’ll need to start taking medication, and once you do you’ll have to continue for the rest of your life.

Whilst HIV is far more manageable for guys newly diagnosed today, it still isn’t going to do you any good.  You may get some side effects from the drugs you have to take, and you may experience some stigma.  It will also affect your sex life as you’ll have a responsibility to not pass the disease on.

So, the best advice is wear a condom to maximise your protection against HIV.

However, in the real world many gay guys still prefer to bareback and that choice should be respected. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone is different, but these three great sex secrets work for most gay guys:

Secret 1: Sexual Chemistry

Sexual chemisty - the elusive X-factor that turbo charges your sex life

Sexual Chemistry is the gay sex X-factor.  Have you ever had crap sex with a guy with model looks?  Or had amazing sex with a guy you wouldn’t look at in the street?

Welcome to sexual chemistry - the elusive but essential ingredient to mind-blowing gay sex!  Sexual chemistry is when you psychologically bond with your partner in a way that allows you to experience the deepest states of arousal. Read the rest of this entry »

It can be hard to resist the temptation to bareback

In our series of posts about barebacking we’ve looked at the consequences of becoming infected with HIV, and the importance of testing often so that if you do become infected with HIV your outlook will be much better.

Today we’re going to take a look at making the personal decision to bareback or not.  In a perfect world all gay guys would use condoms, however, we don’t live in a perfect world, and the fact is that a lot of gay guys find condoms a turn off. 

This post is written assuming you’re HIV negative.  If you’re HIV positive then a site like GMFA will be able to give you more specialised advice. Read the rest of this entry »

Get tested once a year at least!

Yesterday we looked at how we need to establish the hard facts about HIV before making decisions or judgements about gay barebacking.  Well, another hard fact about HIV is the earlier you get diagnosed HIV+ , the better your medical outcome. 

So, get an HIV test early, and get tested often - that’s once a year, or after you have been put at risk (more below).

In the UK our HIV test rates are particularly poor compared to some other countries - Katherine Sladden of the National Aids Trust told Mothership Blog:

“…in Australia we know 85% to 95% of gay men have had a HIV test at some point in their lives.  In the UK this is much lower, only 60% of gay men in the UK have ever had a HIV test.”

However, thanks to efforts from charities like the gay men’s health charity GMFA, there has been a considerable improvement in late diagnosis rates amongst gay men. GMFA’s Matthew Hodson told the Mothership Blog that in 2005 21% of gay men with HIV were diagnosed late, but by 2007 this figure was just 15% [2].  Compare that to 40% of the straight population with a late diagnosis. Read the rest of this entry »

The popularity of gay barebacking is leading to increasing HIV cases

Let’s clear one thing up right away.  HIV is a serious illness.  Developing AIDS is worse.  Using a condom during anal sex will drastically reduce your risk of contracting HIV.

However a mighty row is brewing in the UK gay community recently over the growing popularity and visibility of gay barebacking (fucking without a condom).  The number of gay men contracting HIV is still growing year on year, and there is a worrying spike of HIV infection rates in our young gay men under 24[1].

1980s AIDS advert

A Pink News article by Gary Leigh ’Killing Us Softly’ argues for a return to hard-hitting no-nonsense AIDS campaigns like those from the 80’s.  It has attracted 175 comments already, many of them critical of the prominent gay sexual health charities like GMFA and THT. ‘This has happened on your watch’, Leigh seems to be saying.

The actor Alan Cumming has also been very vocal on the issue in this month’s Attitude magazine:

“There will be a new wave of AIDS deaths”, he states, adding

“AIDS will kill you, and it will make your life terrible. You can live longer now but there will be a wave of death when the new combinations stop being effective.”

Read the rest of this entry »