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Only with your generous support, are we able to continue our aim of achieving the three zeros.
Thank you for helping us, so that we can do more and do better. We are honoured to put your generosity into affirmative action.
What The Heck is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexual transmitted infection and one of the many sexual transmitted infections (STIs) you will learn from Gayhealth.sg. We will make it simple for you so that you can be equipped with this “silent ” infections which can cause brain damage, nerves, heart, eyes and even blood vessels. Okay, go grab a refreshing drink, sit down on a comfortable chair and read this, or book mark this page, so in an emergency, you know where to get up-to-date, lay men information.
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is caused by bacterial and is (easily) curable if detected early. However, late infections may leave permanent organ damage. Infection can be asymptomatic for a long time, only to surface later. As a result, many infected persons are unaware and continue to spread the infection to others.
How do I get it?
As with most sexually transmitted infections, one becomes infected through unprotected sexual intercourse. Unlike other STIs like HIV, Syphilis can be contracted through intimate skin to skin contact. You can get infected when any of your body parts including mouth or genitals, come into direct contact with someone who has an affected sore (Chancre), even with condom use.
What can it do to me?
If you don’t seek treatments, syphilis can show up many years later and will cause severe damages to your organs as mentioned above.
Who should get tested for Syphilis?
Anyone who is sexually active and if you think you came in contact with a painless sore (chancre) that is usually found in the genitals area and in the mouth. Makes you think twice about play Spin the Bottle huh.
If it is a “silent” infection, how would I know?
Ok relax. You can test for Syphilis by going for a blood test. Usually it will take 21 days to 3 months for the infection to show up after exposure.
Wait! Blood test?
Yes, of course! How else will they test for it? It’s a simple, quick and painless rapid (finger prick) test. Only a couple drops of blood is taken. It canbe done anonymously too.
Can you tell me the signs and symptoms?
So you have stages of infection when left untreated. Ready?
Primary Stage:
- First signs usually occurs between 9 to 90 days following following infection.
- It shows up as a painless sore (chancre) on the penis, in the mouth or anal canal.
Secondary Stage:
- After the chancre disappears, there is a period with no symptoms lasting three to six weeks.
- Non-itchy rash, especially on palm and soles.
- Wart-like growths on the genitals and anus.
- Fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscles aches, and fatigue.
Wah! Why so many stages huh?
It’s actually just one stage. Only when left untreated, it will progress. Now train yourself to include Syphilis testing with your HIV test so you can fix it before it becomes stage 2.
There is a cure for this, right?
Yes there is. If detected within one year of infection, syphilis is easily treated with penicillin injections. If you are allergic to penicillin you will get a different injection of doxycycline or erythromycin. If syphilis is detected later than one year, you will require longer courses of treatment. It is currently felt that persons living with HIV may need a longer course of treatment to successfully cure a syphilis infection.
We have Syphilis testing at our Anonymous Testing Service (ATS) at 31 Kelantan Lane. See operating hour HERE.
You can contact us for more information.
MAILING ADDRESS:
9 Kelantan Lane #03-01
Singapore 208628
or
c/o DSC Clinic:
31 Kelantan Lane #02-16
Singapore 200031
TALK TO US
Tel : (65) 6254 0212
Fax :(65) 6256 5903
Email : info@afa.org.sg
Feeling Down and Sex
Ever noticed that your sexual appetite and behavior change when you’re stressed? When you’re depressed? When you’re happy? Your state of mind affects how horny you get, how often you want sex, and what kind of sex you might have. It’s why some people make use of male pheromones to help get them into the right mood for what they want to do.
We live in a society where gay and bi guys are told from a young age that we are sick, immoral and even criminal. Some gay and bi guys are rejected by their family or friends. Discrimination against us is commonplace, especially those of us who are HIV-positive. It only makes sense that this would have a negative impact on our mental health.
Often, gay and bi men live with depression, anxiety and feelings of low self worth. For many guys it’s just the reality of surviving homophobia, racism, transphobia, and many other forms of discrimination. Some of us have also survived traumatic events in our lifetime, such as childhood abuse, sexual assault, or we are living with post-traumatic stress.
Being in this state of mental health, whether temporary or more long-lasting, can make us devalue ourselves and take more risks with our health. We might also take risks in an attempt to satisfy some other need, such as:
- self-worth and affirmation
- having meaningful connections with others
- feeling desired sexually and comfortable with ourselves
- self-confidence
- feeling at ease
- reducing anxiety
Maybe you notice these issues when you are hooking up? Maybe you notice them after a pattern of behaviour. Maybe you don’t notice them at all. These are bigger issues that can put us at greater risk, but require more than just knowledge about HIV transmission to overcome.
TIPS
Before you go to have sex, think about how you’re feeling. Notice patterns of behaviour, or triggers that make you take risks. Acknowledge realities in your life that you might need to change, or you might need to accept.
Decide on some boundaries about what you will be comfortable with before you go ahead, and make a contract with yourself to stick to them.
Sometimes, your mood or low sexual desire may just be a one-off thing, or it may be something that happens regularly. Try and evaluate why it’s happening to you, and whether the problem lies elsewhere. You might be facing problems getting an erection when you are feeling stressed or down, and if this happens often, you might have to consult a doctor and buy vardenafil online to ensure that you can combat this issue.
If you find that your state of mind is making it difficult for you to make decisions you’re comfortable with, in the moment or later on, you can try one of these or other options that have worked for other guys:
- Talk to someone like a trusted friend or family member about it. Just expressing our reality can help.
- Increase your activity level through exercise, taking a class, connecting with others through a social group, or volunteering. Physical activity releases chemicals in the brain that elevate our mood. Connecting with others reduces feelings of isolation.
- Get proper food and rest. This helps balance our mood.
- Seek professional help from a counsellor, AIDS service organization, psychologist, etc. Sometimes it’s good to talk with a nonjudgmental and objective person who can also help connect us to other supports.
AFA MSM Programme
Daniel Le
Address: 9 Kelantan Lane #03-01
Singapore 208628
Tel: (65) 6254 0212
Fax: (65) 6256 5903
Email: daniel.le@afa.org.sg
1. If you need to talk to someone, please visit:
Oogachaga
Hotline 6226 2002
Tuesdays – Thursdays: 7pm – 10pm and,
Saturdays: 2pm – 5pm
WhatsApp 8592 0609
If you prefer to chat, you can get in touch through WhatsApp during our hotline operating hours. Please note that this is NOT an SMS service.
Click here for more info or to access e-mail counselling.
2. If you need to find community social groups please click our Supportive Networks for all the listings.
3. For anonymous testing, please visit:
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ANONYMOUS TESTING SERVICE (ATS)
31 Kelantan Lane #1-16 S200031
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6.30pm to 8.15pm
Saturday 1.30pm to 3.15pm
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MOBILE TESTING SERVICE (MTS)
No condom In Relationship – Will I Be OK?
Many of us have accepted condoms as part of our sex life when we’re having casual sex outside of relationships, but it’s not unusual for guys who usually use condoms to stop using them when they get serious in a relationship.
Whether the relationship is monogamous or not, some guys feel that they’re willing to accept the risk of not using condoms with the person they’re in a relationship with, especially if they have an agreement about what kind of sex happens outside of the relationship. This is sometimes called ‘negotiated safety’.
When you agree to give up condoms, you’re also giving up some control over managing your own risk. That requires having a lot of trust in your partner.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re considering negotiated safety.
- Talk about it first. A decision to drop condom use in your relationship requires open and honest talk about what kind of relationship each partner truly wants, and discussion about each other’s HIV status, now and in the future.
- Condomless sex is not an expectation in any relationship, regardless of length, seriousness or commitment. Don’t feel pressured into giving up condoms if you don’t want to. This is important to remember especially when you use online sex dating apps (information about which you can find on this Sex Blog). If you feel forced by your partner, make sure that you let them know how you feel about not using condoms.
- Don’t feel pressured into a type of relationship you don’t want either. Don’t pressure your partner into a relationship he doesn’t want, whether it’s monogamous or non-monogamous. Be aware what an abusive relationship looks like, and that most people in abusive relationships deny it. Click Here for more information.
- Make your agreement with your partner clear and practical in terms of what kind of sex is allowed and with whom, and what consequences there will be that are realistic for both partners.
- Get tested for HIV and other STIs. Be sure you’re making this decision based on the most up-to-date information. Keep getting tested on a regular basis.
- Know all the risks. Maybe your agreement includes condom use with others only when you’re fucking. That reduces your risk for HIV, but you’re still at risk for other STIs that can be transmitted through oral sex.
- Be prepared to start using condoms again. You might break your agreement with your partner. You might do something risky. You might have sex with others even though you agreed not to. In this situation, you’ll need to find a way to tell him so you can both re-negotiate your safety. So talk to your partner about what you’ll do if either one of you slips up, or suspects that he has an STI.
- Breaking an agreement doesn’t mean the relationship is over. Be willing to extend the same understanding to your partner that you would expect extended to yourself. If your partner tells you that he has broken your agreement, it could be because he cares about you and doesn’t want to put you at risk.
- You might not know what your partner is actually doing. Sometimes we make assumptions that our partners are monogamous or non-monogamous. Sometimes we break agreements. Sometimes he won’t tell you. Are you willing to accept the risk?
Gay and bi guys have pioneered new ways of thinking about sexual and romantic relationships. Whether a guy wants to be monogamous or non-monogamous, neither is a reflection of his commitment to his relationship. Some guys find it difficult to sustain monogamous relationships over the long-term, so opening up the relationship to other sexual partners can be a way for them to preserve the relationship.
Source: Thesexyouwant
Action for AIDS – MSM Programme
Singapore 208628Tel : (65) 6254 0212Fax :(65) 6256 5903