HIV/AIDS

New HIV infections in BC are continuing to rise. On average, 14 gay men find out they are HIV positive every month in BC Most people do not look or feel any different when they acquire HIV. That means they may not know they have it and someone can’t tell from the outside if someone is HIV positive. Less than half of people who contract HIV report a flu like illness 3 to 6 weeks after the time that they think they might have gotten HIV, this is called “seroconversion illness”. An HIV antibody test is the best way to find out if you are HIV positive. The test is always free and confidential in BC. You can get a test at your doctor’s office or at a local public health clinic or STI clinic For gay men the primary sexual risk for getting HIV is unprotected anal sex, either as a top or bottom (though the bottoms risks are higher). Giving a blow job has some risk, though small. That risk is increased if there are open areas in the mouth, like a canker or cold sore or bleeding gums or a sore throat. That is why we recommend brushing and flossing your teeth after sex and not before. Having a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea or syphilis greatly increases the chance of both transmitting and acquiring HIV. Though HIV is treatable with the antiretroviral “cocktail” it remains incurable. HIV TESTING To find out your HIV status you can take an HIV antibody test. This is a blood test and is always free and confidential in BC. You can get a test at your doctor, a local public health clinic or an STI clinic. For a list of clinics in BC which do HIV testing click here.

Syphilis

Since 2003, syphilis rates have dramatically increased in BC's gay community. The same increase has been noted in the gay population in all major centres throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Early symptoms of syphilis are an open area called a chancre. This can appear anywhere one has contact with someone else’s chancre, often the mouth, penis or bum. This means that syphilis can be transmitted through anal or oral sex whether protected or not. The chancre is painless and so is often missed. Consequently most people with syphilis do not describe having any symptoms. Untreated syphilis can have serious health consequences, such as blindness or brain damage. The test for syphilis is a blood test and would be part of screening for STIs. Syphilis is curable with the appropriate antibiotics. For more information on Syphilis see Diseases.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is the most common STI in the gay community. Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of any or all of the following: the throat, the penis or the rectum (bum). You get gonorrhea by having the bacteria from someone else’s throat, penis or rectum enter your throat, penis or rectum. That means you can get it or give it through anal sex and oral sex. You can not get gonorrhea from kissing. The symptoms of gonorrhea usually are pus or discharge from the urethra (the tube you pee out of) or from the rectum. You can also have pain when you pee or cramping pain in the bum. However gonorrhea can present without symptoms. Gonorrhea of the throat and gonorrhea of the rectum often go unnoticed Having gonorrhea makes it easier to get or give other serious STIs like HIV. Gonorrhea is curable with the appropriate antibiotics. For more information on Gonorrhea see Diseases.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection that can affect the penis and/or the rectum. The bacteria is passed by contact with your partners infected site or the discharge, primarily by unprotected anal sex. There is some evidence that even though chlamydia does not grow in the throat it can be passed by a blow job. More research is being conducted in this area. Half of men with chlamydia do not have symptoms. If the symptoms are present, they can be discharge from the urethra or rectum and pain or irritation in the urethra or rectum. Chlamydia is curable with the appropriate antibiotics. For more information on Chlamydia see Diseases.

Hepatitis A

In recent years we have experienced an ongoing increase in hepatitis A in the gay community Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver, causing a ‘flu-like illness, fatigue and in severe cases, jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Hepatitis A is highly infectious and is passed by contact with an infected person’s feces (stool) into your mouth. It can be transmitted through food preparation or through sexual contact such as rimming. There is a vaccine available to prevent hepatitis A and it is recommended and free for all gay men in BC. For more information on Hepatitis see Diseases.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver, causing a ‘flu-like illness,’ fatigue, and in severe cases, jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Hepatitis B virus is found in most body fluids, such as blood, semen and saliva and can be very infectious, even with casual contact. Approximately 10% of people who acquire hepatitis B as adults will become a carrier or have chronic hepatitis B. There is a vaccine available to prevent hepatitis B that is currently offered to all children in BC. In BC, hepatitis B vaccination is recommended and available at no cost to anyone who is sexually active. Immunizations are available at your doctor’s office, at your local public health clinic or STI clinic. For more information on Hepatitis see Diseases.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver, causing a ‘flu like illness,’ fatigue, and in severe cases, jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Approximately 80% of people who acquire hepatitis C will become a carrier or have chronic hepatitis C. The major risk for hepatitis C transmission is through sharing drug equipment - like used needles, spoons or water for injecting, bills or straws for snorting and crack pipes. There are reports of hepatitis C being transmitted with unprotected anal sex, although the most significant risk is through sharing drug equipment. If someone has hepatitis C getting hepatitis A or hepatitis B can be very serious. Therefore it is very important that people with hepatitis C get vaccinated for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. There is no vaccine available for hepatitis C. For more information on Hepatitis see Diseases.

Herpes

Herpes is estimated to be one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Herpes is a viral disease caused by two closely related viruses; herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. Both these viruses cause permanent infections of the nerve cell and can lead to periodic blister-like outbreaks. Herpes type 1 seems to have a preference for the skin of the mouth and is commonly called a “cold sore”. It is estimated that 70% of people have herpes type 1. Herpes type 2 used to be called genital herpes and seems to prefer the thin skin of the penis or around the anus (bum). It is estimated that 20% of men have herpes type 2. It is possible to get type 1 herpes on the genitals (a cold sore on penis or bum) or type 2 herpes on the lips. Oral sex can pass either type of herpes virus. Herpes is passed by skin to skin contact with the infected area, either during an outbreak or less commonly in between outbreaks. Having a herpes outbreak can increase the risk of getting or giving other STIs such as HIV. Although condoms reduce the risk of transmission of the herpes virus, they may not prevent transmission if the condom does not cover the affected or vulnerable skin (i.e. at the base of the penis). Though there is no cure for herpes, there are treatments available. Treatments can prevent or relieve symptoms and shorten an outbreak. For more information on Herpes see Diseases.

Warts or HPV

Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) which infects the local skin cells. Most people who have HPV have no symptoms. A wart is a small raised growth with a bumpy, textured surface, like a cauliflower. There are almost 200 different types of HPV that cause all types of warts, including those on the hands, feet or on the genitals A small number of HPV types are linked to an increased risk of cancer (cervical cancer in women and rectal cancer in men and women). This risk appears to increase if the person is HIV positive. The types of HPV that are linked to increased risk of cancer do not generally cause a wart or growth. Consequently, having a wart is not generally viewed as a serious problem but more as a cosmetic problem. Treatments are available to remove the growth or wart, such as freezing with liquid nitrogen. Though the wart will be gone, the skin at the site may still shed HPV for some time. For more information on HPV/Genital warts see Diseases.