Monday, February 18, 2008

by Carina Marquez
Nicola M. Zetola, MD
Jeffrey D. Klausner, MD, MPH
HIV testing: an update
http://www.mlo-online.com/articles/0208/0208cover_story.pdf

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Recently in the mail...

          Not sure what you mean.. but if I guess correctly then if
men are going to be tested for HIV before they embark on a sexual
relationship (as 'negotiated safety' recommends they do) then
there is every reason to suggest that they get tested for STIs as well.

However whether such a test should not preclude regular STI testing
during the relationmship (see below).


          Within the strategy the partners decide to have unprotected
sex (anal intercourse) within the relationship but 'safe sex'
outside the relationship: they may decide that the 'safe sex'
outside the relationships is:
(1) no sex outside;
(2) no anal sex outside;
(3) if anal sex outside then only and always protected anal outside.

If the partners decide and commit to (1)
then there is no likelihood of any STI infection occuring
(unless one was present at the outset of the relatiosnhip).

On the other hand if (2) or (3) are decided on then an STI is always
possible during the relationship ... Men (indeed anyone) who engages
in sex with numbers of partners are advised to have regular STI checks..

> Within the strategy the partners decide to have unprotected sex
> (anal intercourse) within the relationship but 'safe sex'
> outside the relationship: they may decide that the 'safe sex'
> outside the relationships is:
> (1) no sex outside;
> (2) no anal sex outside;
> (3) if anal sex outside then only and always protected anal
> outside.

the correct term is always... safer
there's never zero risk.
if we don't even get the word right, how can we expect people to use
these safer sex practices?


> If the partners decide and commit to (1)
> then there is no likelihood of any STI infection occuring
> (unless one was present at the outset of the relatiosnhip).

if they keep the commitment. that's implied in the word commit.
people make a commitment. time passes. other things happen.
you've got to have testing. you've got to decide it's
the right thing to do.