Short, simple and to the point, get tested!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What is Trich (Trichomoniasis)? STD Spotlight
Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as trich, is caused by a parasite. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is “the most common curable STD in young sexually active women.” New cases of trich affect an estimated 7.4 million women and men each year in the United States.
How is trich transmitted?
Trich is passed through penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva (area outside the vagina) with an infected partner. In men, the site of the infection is usually the urethra (urine canal). For women, the most common area of infection is the vagina.
While women get trich from either men or women, men usually are infected by women.
What are the symptoms of trich?
When women have symptoms of this infection, they appear within five to twenty-eight days of transmission. Symptoms include an odorous, frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge. Women may also experience discomfort during urination and intercourse. The genital area may also itch. In a few cases, lower abdominal pain has also been noted. Pregnant women with this infection may have babies with low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds) and pre-term babies.
Many men that have been infected with trich have no symptoms. When signs do occur, they take the form of burning after urination or ejaculation, mild discharge, and irritation inside the penis.
How is trich diagnosed?
To diagnose trich in men and women, a physical exam and lab test is performed. For women, the vaginal wall or cervix is checked for small red sores.
What is the treatment?
A single dose, given orally of metronidazole or tinidazole, usually can cure trich.
If a man has never been treated for trich, he can continue to pass or re-infect female partners, even if he has never have symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that all sexual partners are treated at the same time to eliminate re-infection. Those with trich should stop sexual activity until treatment is completed and they are non-symptomatic.
Pregnant women can use metronidazole to treat their infection.
Is there a link between trich and HIV?
Having trich may increase the likelihood that an HIV-positive woman can pass HIV to her sexual partner(s). Also, if the genital area is inflamed by trich, it can increase a woman’s susceptibility to HIV, if she is exposed to the virus.
How can trich be prevented?
The most effective way to prevent trich is to abstain from sexual activity or to be in a monogamous relationship with a partner that has tested negative for the infection. Also, the correct use of latex male condoms reduces the risk for getting trich.
Adapted from the CDC Fact Sheet on Trichomoniasis
How is trich transmitted?
Trich is passed through penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva (area outside the vagina) with an infected partner. In men, the site of the infection is usually the urethra (urine canal). For women, the most common area of infection is the vagina.
While women get trich from either men or women, men usually are infected by women.
What are the symptoms of trich?
When women have symptoms of this infection, they appear within five to twenty-eight days of transmission. Symptoms include an odorous, frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge. Women may also experience discomfort during urination and intercourse. The genital area may also itch. In a few cases, lower abdominal pain has also been noted. Pregnant women with this infection may have babies with low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds) and pre-term babies.
Many men that have been infected with trich have no symptoms. When signs do occur, they take the form of burning after urination or ejaculation, mild discharge, and irritation inside the penis.
How is trich diagnosed?
To diagnose trich in men and women, a physical exam and lab test is performed. For women, the vaginal wall or cervix is checked for small red sores.
What is the treatment?
A single dose, given orally of metronidazole or tinidazole, usually can cure trich.
If a man has never been treated for trich, he can continue to pass or re-infect female partners, even if he has never have symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that all sexual partners are treated at the same time to eliminate re-infection. Those with trich should stop sexual activity until treatment is completed and they are non-symptomatic.
Pregnant women can use metronidazole to treat their infection.
Is there a link between trich and HIV?
Having trich may increase the likelihood that an HIV-positive woman can pass HIV to her sexual partner(s). Also, if the genital area is inflamed by trich, it can increase a woman’s susceptibility to HIV, if she is exposed to the virus.
How can trich be prevented?
The most effective way to prevent trich is to abstain from sexual activity or to be in a monogamous relationship with a partner that has tested negative for the infection. Also, the correct use of latex male condoms reduces the risk for getting trich.
Adapted from the CDC Fact Sheet on Trichomoniasis
Monday, February 15, 2010
Gearing Up for AIDS Walk 2010
First of all, a big shout out to Chuck Franks, my first on-line donor for AIDS Walk. Thanks so much Chuck.I am so excited to be walking with Team GSP in 22nd Annual AIDS Walk in Kansas City. Last year, Team GSP was the seventh team in overall fundraising. In 2009, 4,000 walkers raised $432,000 to support the AIDS Service Organizations (Good Samaritan Project, Hope Care Center, SAVE, Inc. and KC Free). These funds assist in keeping our doors open so we can continue to provide care, advocacy, and education for those living with or at-risk for HIV.
AIDS Walk is a great time to come together and remember those who have lost their battle to AIDS. It is also a great time to celebrate those living with HIV. Come and be a part of this great community event. AIDS Walk will be on April 24th at Theis Park in Kansas City, MO.
Want to support me as a walker? Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/thebuckreport
Friday, February 12, 2010
Is Two Condoms Better Than One?
Actually, using two condoms is less effective than one condom. Wearing two condoms creates friction and this friction can create tears in both condoms allowing for fluids to escape. Since friction is not a friend to condoms, reduce friction by using a water-based lube. Do not use oil-base lubes as they break down latex and weaken the condom.
Some other tips about condoms:
· Condoms have an expiration date. Carefully look at the date before use.
· Condoms should be stored at room temperature. Storing condoms in glove boxes, wallets and other areas that expose a condom to extremes in heat and cold weakens the condom.
· If you (or your partner) are allergic to latex, choose polyurethane condoms. Natural skin condoms are not recommend for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Be safe this Valentine’s Day. Use a condom EVERY time.
Some other tips about condoms:
· Condoms have an expiration date. Carefully look at the date before use.
· Condoms should be stored at room temperature. Storing condoms in glove boxes, wallets and other areas that expose a condom to extremes in heat and cold weakens the condom.
· If you (or your partner) are allergic to latex, choose polyurethane condoms. Natural skin condoms are not recommend for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Be safe this Valentine’s Day. Use a condom EVERY time.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Is “O Canada” Falling on Deaf Ears?
Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Senior Policy Analyst for the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network issued a 42-page report on the need for needle-exchange programs within the prison system. Titled Under the Skin, this report was complied from testimonials from current and former prisoners that shared needles and syringes while incarcerated.
Ka Hon Chu, noted “The scientific evidence and legal justifications for prison-based needle and syringe programs have long been established – including in our report from last year, Clean Switch – yet still the Canadian government will not implement these proven health services.”
The aim of these needle exchange programs is to stop the spread of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C and may have benefits to the average Canadian tax payer. Medical treatment for a prisoner with HIV is $29,000 yearly and $22,000 for Hepatitis C. Considering that prisoners are affected by HIV and Hepatitis C at a rate that is 10 to 20 percent higher than the general public, the ramifications for ignoring this problem comes with a significant public health and financial price tag.
Given the many negative impacts of ignoring this information, why are governments not implementing the recommended changes? Perhaps, because of the changes it would require from everyone, from elected officials to the average citizen. We would have to admit to drug use (not to mention sexual activity) occurs within prisons and this drug use transmits HIV and other diseases. We would have to admit that protecting the health of prisoners is not a job that can be performed by prison guards and wardens alone, but requires support of the general public. Protecting the health of children and grandmothers is a platform that wins votes for officials seeking reelection. Campaigning with the position of providing free (paid by tax-payers) needles to incarcerated individuals is political suicide.
If we want the spread of HIV (and other diseases) to stop, following the scientific evidence is paramount. Unlike so many other diseases, we have all the tools (clean needles, condoms) to prevent HIV. Creating access to these tools, regardless of the location of the individual, will lower infection rates. However, this is just one buck's opinion.
Adapted from Top News
Ka Hon Chu, noted “The scientific evidence and legal justifications for prison-based needle and syringe programs have long been established – including in our report from last year, Clean Switch – yet still the Canadian government will not implement these proven health services.”
The aim of these needle exchange programs is to stop the spread of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C and may have benefits to the average Canadian tax payer. Medical treatment for a prisoner with HIV is $29,000 yearly and $22,000 for Hepatitis C. Considering that prisoners are affected by HIV and Hepatitis C at a rate that is 10 to 20 percent higher than the general public, the ramifications for ignoring this problem comes with a significant public health and financial price tag.
Given the many negative impacts of ignoring this information, why are governments not implementing the recommended changes? Perhaps, because of the changes it would require from everyone, from elected officials to the average citizen. We would have to admit to drug use (not to mention sexual activity) occurs within prisons and this drug use transmits HIV and other diseases. We would have to admit that protecting the health of prisoners is not a job that can be performed by prison guards and wardens alone, but requires support of the general public. Protecting the health of children and grandmothers is a platform that wins votes for officials seeking reelection. Campaigning with the position of providing free (paid by tax-payers) needles to incarcerated individuals is political suicide.
If we want the spread of HIV (and other diseases) to stop, following the scientific evidence is paramount. Unlike so many other diseases, we have all the tools (clean needles, condoms) to prevent HIV. Creating access to these tools, regardless of the location of the individual, will lower infection rates. However, this is just one buck's opinion.
Adapted from Top News
Monday, February 8, 2010
Can HIV Be Transmitted By Oral Sex?
A common question I get while presenting at high schools is “can HIV be transmitted by oral sex?” While the mouth is an inhospitable environment for HIV (enzymes in saliva break down HIV), there are documented cases of HIV transmitted through oral sex. All of these cases have been attributed to the ejaculation of semen into the mouth (not pre-semen or vaginal fluid).
Oral sex is a lower risk activity than anal or vaginal sex for HIV. However, many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are transmitted orally, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV), nongonococcal urethrtis (NGU), syphilis, and yeast infections. Many of these STIs are have no or few symptoms and individuals will not know they are infected.
Know your status and reduce your risk for STIs. Good Samaritan Project provides free and confidential testing for HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Call today (816) 561-8784.
Information in this post was adapted from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Oral sex is a lower risk activity than anal or vaginal sex for HIV. However, many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are transmitted orally, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV), nongonococcal urethrtis (NGU), syphilis, and yeast infections. Many of these STIs are have no or few symptoms and individuals will not know they are infected.
Know your status and reduce your risk for STIs. Good Samaritan Project provides free and confidential testing for HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Call today (816) 561-8784.
Information in this post was adapted from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New Math or Dang! Some People are Wicked Smart
I’ve already finished this month’s book selection (it’s so good, I couldn’t stop reading!) and came across this equation
[CstdFstd(t) + (1-FSTD(t)] [CccFcc(t) + (1-Fcc(t)] Pf_mX1V1 (t) (1-C1(t)) [Y3 / (X3 + Y3]
This formula calculates the chance that a client will get HIV from a sex worker. Who says math is boring?
[CstdFstd(t) + (1-FSTD(t)] [CccFcc(t) + (1-Fcc(t)] Pf_mX1V1 (t) (1-C1(t)) [Y3 / (X3 + Y3]
This formula calculates the chance that a client will get HIV from a sex worker. Who says math is boring?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Book of the Month: The Wisdom of Whores
Book of the Month: The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS by Elizabeth Pisani
Pisani’s swashbuckling wit takes no prisoners as she exposes both those who think AIDS can be prevented by preaching abstinence to sex workers and those who see AIDS as a development problem or who try to apply frameworks of privacy developed in the gay bathhouses of San Francisco to the rest of the world, Pisani makes clear, lives are lost because both governments and nongovernmental organizations wish to avoid the fact that people continue to pursue pleasure in defiance of common sense. (from the front jacket flap)
This book takes a hard look at how global prevention and treatment for HIV fails more than it succeeds and costs more than you ever thought possible. Join us in reading The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS by Elizabeth Pisani. Guest bloggers Caroline Wheatley and Megan Brokaw will be joining me on February 26th to share their insights as professionals in field of HIV.
Pisani’s swashbuckling wit takes no prisoners as she exposes both those who think AIDS can be prevented by preaching abstinence to sex workers and those who see AIDS as a development problem or who try to apply frameworks of privacy developed in the gay bathhouses of San Francisco to the rest of the world, Pisani makes clear, lives are lost because both governments and nongovernmental organizations wish to avoid the fact that people continue to pursue pleasure in defiance of common sense. (from the front jacket flap)
This book takes a hard look at how global prevention and treatment for HIV fails more than it succeeds and costs more than you ever thought possible. Join us in reading The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS by Elizabeth Pisani. Guest bloggers Caroline Wheatley and Megan Brokaw will be joining me on February 26th to share their insights as professionals in field of HIV.
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