Gay Sex Risks are risks bound with gay sex practice and
ranging from various physical disorders like venereal diseases to
emotional problems and stresses.
There is no denial that gay sex is present in every culture and epoch,
however, it is also true that it has always aroused controversies and
is still frowned upon by many societies. It is thus natural that such
public attitude has inevitably compelled many gays conceal their
orientation and so be deprived of different benefits, including
adequate medical services.
As a result we can speak of gay sex practitioners as a separate risk
group for STDs. In particular, statistics show that around 40% of new
HIV infections are found in men
who sleep with men, and on the whole, nearly 10% of
twenty-something MSM are infected with HIV.
So what are the specific gay sex risks and what can be done to reduce
them?
Starting with health risks, it should be pointed out that unprotected
gay sex may lead to the contraction or transmission of such diseases as
HIV, hepatitis, gonorrhea, syphilis, anal cancer and even tuberculosis.
At that, it would be erroneous to believe that only penile-anal and
oral-anal intercourses are dangerous. Gay sex risks during fingering,
for example, include hepatitis A/B/C, HIV and various parasites; and
even frottage or cuddling can bring crabs (louses) and scabies. While
some of these diseases are not life-threatening they can still be very
annoying, cause pains and distress and require long-term treatment.
Considering the above, to reduce gay sex risks protection should always
be used.
One of the best and simplest means of it is using the barrier method,
or in other words, condoms, dental dams, latex gloves, etc. This is
rather safe as the contact of body fluids such as saliva, semen or
blood is minimized, yet even this does not guarantee 100% safety.
Various scratches and tears of tissues, especially the delicate
lining of anus increase the gay sex risks manifold. It is therefore
advisable to examine each other's genitalia and other body parts for
visible signs testifying to health problems. It should also be
understood that protection is not something to economize on. Approved
brands of condoms and latex-compatible lubricants or maybe even
post-exposure prophylaxis could decrease gay sex risks considerably;
one of the gay sex myths is that wearing two condoms simultaneously
ensures better safety, yet - on the contrary - such practice is even
more dangerous as condoms are likely to rip.
As for the possible psychological problems, they are mostly connected
with perceived lack of support and understanding of gays in the
society. Gay men, especially at an early age, can feel ashamed or
uncomfortable about their homosexuality and view it as some kind of a
clinical case consequently suffering from severe stresses and
depressions. It is also true that male sexual abuse is not infrequent
in gay interaction, adding to the gay sex risks and presenting a
serious problem in itself.
To conclude, the most efficient way to reduce gay sex risks is to be
selective and careful when choosing a partner. Trust, negotiation and
honesty are the important issues that should always be considered in
every relationship.
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