The posts in thread provides information about risks associated with various hobbying activities.  They include links that provide a wealth of information.

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AVERT is a leading UK based AIDS Education and Medical Research charity. They are responsible for a wide range of education and medical research work with the overall aim of:
* preventing people from becoming infected with HIV,
* improving the quality of life of those already infected,
* through medical research working to develop a cure for AIDS.
http://www.avert.org/

Here's another useful link: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/haitihiv.htm


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In terms of STDs, and HIV common sense prevails. Hopefully, the subsequent paragraphs help alleviate any misperceptions or misconceptions ...


For STDs, there are visible signs of breakouts, rash, cooties, discoloration of skin, scars, etc... that should ring warning bells. The overall appearance, and hygine of the peson also should be considered.

Terms of HIV there is a lot of literature out there that helps dispense off several myths. For starters, you cannot contract HIV by kissing. The most common way to contract HIV is through personal fluids (blood, semen) getting into your body by accidental contact. Be safe and wear a condom, and select elite providers who see select few screened clients.


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Here's what has to happen for you to be infected with a bloodborne disease (HIV/hepatitis):

1) your partner must be infected
2) their viral load must be high (an infected person's potential to infect others varies with a number of factors)
3) you must come into contact with a significant amount of certain body fluids, like blood or semen; you must absorb the fluid through a mucous membrane or open skin area
4) the contact must be extended; the shorter the contact, the less chance for infection
5) your immune system must be unable to fight off the infection

Though anal sex is the most likely to spread bloodborne disease; oral sex is the least.

There is no documented case of anyone ever contacting HIV through receiving oral sex; you could get it through performing but it is unlikely. If you do perform bbjtc, take a facial or swallow it and rinse quickly to reduce your risk to almost zero (the acid in your stomach will kill the virus). Holding it in your mouth for an extended time is the worst thing you can do.

Odds of contracting HIV through unprotected sex? estimated at approximately .3% (3 in 1000). Odds of contracting HIV through unprotected sex with a KNOWN INFECTED partner? i've seen it estimated at anywhere from 1% to no more than 12%.

Check out the link i've included for lots of Q&A, or do a search on HIV, BLOODBORNE, STD, etc. there's a ton of info out there.


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A provider who sees two guys a day and works about 250 days a year will have about 500 dates a year. For the sake of discussion let's define a high-volume provider as someone who has 1000 dates a year.

A previous post said that 50 million people world-wide are HIV positive. The United Nations estimate I just looked up said 40 million at the end of 2001. Whatever. There are more than 6 billion people in the world. That is an infection rate of under 1%. I think the rate for the United States is about 0.3%. Let us assume 1% for the sexually active US population.

A high-volume provider having 1000 dates a year can expect to have (on average) sex with a HIV positive man about 10 times in a year.

According to a NIAID study (see link) using a condom reduces the risk of HIV transmission by a factor of about seven. I have seen other estimates as high as 20. Let's assume a condom reduces risk by a factor of 10.

If our high-volume provider is using condoms (isn't everyone?) then her risk in having 1000 dates with men with unknown HIV status is equivalent to having unprotected sex once with a man who is known to be HIV positive.

You would do better to be more worried about the HIV status of the provider's boyfriend or husband if she has one. She is probably having unprotected sex with him a lot more than once a year.

Don't forget that HIV is an EXTREMELY difficult disease to transmit. The following three paragraphs are quoted from the link.

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COUPLES STUDY IN HAITI SHOWS REDUCTION IN HETROSEXUAL HIV TRANSMISSION

A study in Haiti of "discordant" hetrosexual couples -- those in which one partner is HIV-infected and the other uninfected -- found that almost half of sexually active couples receiving counseling and free condoms adoped safe sex practices (either abstinence or consistent condom use), according to investigators supported in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The rate of new HIV infections among couples who consistently used condoms was one-seventh as high as those who did not.

...

The investigators observed a seroconversion rate of 1.0 per 100 person years for couples who always used a condom, and 6.8 per 100 person years for couples who used condoms irregularly or not at all. The seroconversion rates were similar between couples who never used condoms and those who used them irregularly, underscoring the importance of consistent, correct condom use. The female-to-male rate of HIV transmission was 7.6 per 100 person years; the rate of male-to-female transmission was 4.8 per 100 person years.

The investigators confirmed previous reports that other sexually transmitted deseases significantly increase a person's risk of becoming infected with HIV. Gential ulcer diseases, syphilis, and vaginal or penile discharge in the HIV-negative partner, and syphilis in the HIV-infected partner each increased the risk of HIV transmission.


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In other words, if you have sex for a year with a regular partner who is HIV positive and don't use any protection you stand about a 7% chance of becoming HIV positive yourself.

Athough it is obvious that the risk of getting HIV increases with the number of times you have sex with an infected partner it seems to me that having protected (safer, but not safe) sex with a large number of partners with unknown HIV sex is minor league risk compared to having regular unprotected sex with a single infected partner


-- Modified on 6/22/2007 9:53:30 PM

Time, and time again ... a number of posts pop up regarding risks associated with various hobbying activities. Often times, I respond directly to the issue at hand.
However, I thought it would be benefitial to all to have a comprehensive post that covers a broad range of health related topics, and help address a number of issues/concerns...

This post contains useful articles, and a number of informative links. More IMPORTANTLY, HELPS filter Facts Vs. Ficiton.


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I/ A CLINICAL Study On Oral Sex And Transmission Of Diseases

http://www.aidsmap.com/news/newsdisplay2.asp?newsId=1483

The last paragraph states, "In total almost 19,000 instances of unprotected oral sex were estimated to have occurred involving the 135 couples over the ten years of the study, but not a single case of HIV transmission was detected. The study authors conclude that: “this seems to point to a very low probability of HIV transmission related to this practice.” "

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II/ STDs

Here are a few good links that provide information of STDs - Definitions, Prevention, Symptoms, and Cures.

1/ http://www.avert.org/std.htm

2/ http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/disease_info.htm

3/ http://www.i-std.com/

4/ http://www.urologychannel.com/std/index.shtml

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III/ Hepatitis

Here are links that describes Hepatitis A, B, C D, E, and G --Definitions, Prevention, Symptoms, and Cures.

1/ http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/

2/ http://www.hepnet.com/

3/ http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4075abc.htm
(this link provides a chart that does a side by side comparision between Hep. A, B, and C)

4/ http://www.hepatitis.org.uk/s-crina/menu.htm
(an extremely comprehensive site)

I really worry about other more easily transmissible diseases Hep C, HPV, syphillis, gonorrhea, chlymidia and others.... some which can lead to specific types of cancer....  

so - let us all be realistic... this is a risky hobby.  play safe.

All nice info, i think we all appreciate.
There are still some guys (especially some of the young guys ) dont like to use it. I really really hate it and not sure why they want to take this big risk??
Take care and enjoy the non-risk hobby fun!

Here are some additional links that are informative/useful.

1/ Medicinenet.Com
http://www.medicinenet.com/Sexually_Transmitted_Diseases_STDs_In_Men/article.htm


2/ International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
http://www.iapac.org/


3/ aidsmap
http://www.aidsmap.com/


4/ CDC Network
http://www.cdcnpin.org/

Oral Sex and the Risk of HIV Transmission

The risk of HIV transmission from an infected partner through oral sex is much smaller than the risk of HIV transmission from anal or vaginal sex. Because of this, measuring the exact risk of HIV transmission as a result of oral sex is very difficult.

In addition, since most sexually active individuals practice oral sex in addition to other forms of sex, such as vaginal and/or anal sex, when transmission occurs, it is difficult to determine whether or not it occurred as a result of oral sex or other more risky sexual activities. Finally, several co-factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex, including: oral ulcers, bleeding gums, genital sores, and the presence of other STDs.

When scientists describe the risk of transmitting an infectious disease, like HIV, the term "theoretical risk" is often used. Very simply, "theoretical risk" means that passing an infection from one person to another is possible, even though there may not yet be any actual documented cases. "Theoretical risk" is not the same as likelihood. In other words, stating that HIV infection is "theoretically possible" does not necessarily mean it is likely to happen-only that it might.

Documented risk, on the other hand, is used to describe transmission that has actually occurred, been investigated, and documented in the scientific literature.

Various scientific studies have been performed around the world to try and document and study instances of HIV transmission through oral sex.

A programme in San Francisco studied 198 people, nearly all gay or bisexual men. The subjects stated that they had only had oral sex for a year, from six months preceding the six-month study to its end. 20 per cent of the study participants, 39 people, reported performing oral sex on partners they knew to be HIV positive. 35 of those did not use a condom and 16 reported swallowing cum. No-one became HIV positive during the study.

Due to the low number of unprotected serodiscordant pairings, all that can be said is that there was a less than 2.8 per cent chance of infection through oral sex over a year.

In June 2002, a study conducted amongst 135 HIV-negative Spanish heterosexuals, who were in a sexual relationship with a person who was HIV-positive, reported that over 19,000 instances of unprotected oral sex had NOT lead to any cases of HIV transmission.

The study also looked at contributing factors that could effect the potential transmission of HIV through oral sex. They monitored viral load and asked questions such as whether ejaculation in the mouth occurred and how good oral health was. Amongst HIV-positive men, 34 per cent had ejaculated into the mouths of their partners. Viral load levels were available for 60 people in the study, 10 per cent of whom had levels over 10,000 copies. Nearly 16 per cent of the HIV-positive people had CD4 counts below 200. The study, conducted over a ten year period between 1990 and 2000, adds to the growing number of studies which suggest varying levels of risk of HIV transmission from oral sex when compared to anal or vaginal intercourse.

At the 4th International Oral AIDS Conference held in South Africa, the risk of transmission through oral sex was estimated to be approximately 0.04 per cent per contact. This percentage figure is a lot lower than the two American figures, because this figure is a risk per contact percentage, whereas the other figures are percentage risks over much longer time periods.

Oral sex is still regarded as a low-risk sexual activity in terms of HIV transmission.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Chlamydia

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia (pronounced kla-MID-ee-ah) is a micro-organism that infects both men and women. In adults it can damage the reproductive organs, sometimes causing sterility. It is a major cause of cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and nongonococcal urethritis (NGU). (NGU is sometimes called nonspecific urethritits, or NSU.)

How are Chlamydial Infections transmitted?

Chlamydial infections are most often spread during vaginal or anal sexual contact. In some cases, they are spread by oral sex as well. In addition, babies can get chlamydia during birth if the mother has this infection. Chlamydia in newborns can lead to pneumonia or conjunctivitis.

Is it easy to recognize a Chlamydial Infection?

In many cases, it is very difficult to spot the symptoms of Chlamydia. Some 75% of women will have no symptoms until complications set in. The same is true for an estimated 25% of men. Many people have no idea they might have a Chlamydial infection until a partner is diagnosed and treated. The only sure way to know is to be tested.

What are the symptoms of a Chlamydial Infection?

When present, symptoms of Chlamydial infections may appear within one to three weeks after exposure to an infected partner. Symptoms are often similar to those of gonorrhea and may include the following:

In Women:

Unusual vaginal discharge or burning when urinating.
Lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, bleeding between menstrual periods, or low grade fever (later symptoms).

In Men:

Discharge from the penis and/or burning when urinating.
Burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
Pain and swelling in the testicles, or low-grade fever (associated with epididymitis).
Can Chlamydial Infections be dangerous?

Yes. Even if no symptoms are present, Chlamydial infections can create serious health problems. If left untreated, they can cause:

In Both Men & Women:

A painful infection that can require hospitalization.
Permanent damage to the reproductive organs, causing chronic pain and infertility (difficulty in getting pregnant).
Sterility (the inability to have children).
In Women:

Ectopic or tubal pregnancy, a serious condition and major cause of maternal death.

In Babies:

Eye, ear, and lung infections.

thanks for that info...  this info is requested periodically, but few people take the request seriously... mostly the responses are "try another hobby".

Thanks for taking the time bluethrills.



























-- Modified on 6/23/2007 8:48:40 AM

Gonorrhea Gonococcal Infection (clap, drip)
What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is an infection that is spread through sexual contact with another person. The gonorrhea germs are found in the mucous areas of the body (the vagina, penis, throat and rectum).

Who gets gonorrhea?

Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. Most often, gonorrhea is found in younger people (ages 15-30) who have multiple sex partners. Gonorrhea is reported more frequently from urban area than from rural areas.

How is gonorrhea spread?

Gonorrhea is spread through sexual contact. This includes penis to vagina, penis to mouth, penis to rectum and mouth to vagina contact. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to child during birth.

What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?

Men infected with gonorrhea will have burning while urinating and a yellowish white discharge from the penis. Those few women with symptoms will have a discharge form the vagina and possibly some burning while urinating. Infections in the throat and rectum cause few symptoms.

How soon do symptoms appear?

In males, symptoms usually appear two to seven days after infection but it can take as long as 30 days for symptoms to begin. Often, there are no symptoms for people infected with gonorrhea; 10 to 15 percent of men and about 80 percent of women may have no symptoms. People with no symptoms are at risk for developing complications to gonorrhea. These people also spread this infection unknowingly.

When and for how long is a person able to spread gonorrhea?

From the time a person is infected with gonorrhea, he or she can spread the disease. A person can continue to spread the infection until properly treated.

Does past infection with gonorrhea make a person immune?

Past infection does not make a person immune to gonorrhea. Previous infections with gonorrhea may allow complications to occur more rapidly.

What is the treatment for gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is treated with penicillin or other antibiotics in pill form or by injection into the buttocks. All strains of gonorrhea are curable but this disease is becoming more and more resistant to many standard medications.

What happens if gonorrhea goes untreated?

If a person is not treated for gonorrhea, there is a good chance complications will occur. Women frequently suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a painful condition that occurs when the infection spreads throughout the reproductive organs. PID can lead to sterilization in females. Men may suffer from swelling of the testicles and penis. Both sexes may suffer from arthritis, skin problems and other organ infections caused by the spread of gonorrhea within the body.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B (formerly known as serum hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by a virus. The disease is fairly common; more than 2,000 cases are reported in New York State each year.

Who gets hepatitis B?

Anyone can get hepatitis B, but those at greater risk include:

drug abusers who share needles;
certain health care workers who have contact with infected blood;
homosexual males, particularly those with multiple partners;
people in custodial care (in settings such as developmental centers);
hemodialysis patients;
certain household contacts of an infected person;
infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B carriers.
How is the virus spread?

Hepatitis B virus can be found in the blood and, to a lesser extent, saliva, semen and other body fluids of an infected person. It is spread by direct contact with infected body fluids; usually by needle stick injury or sexual contact. Hepatitis B virus is not spread by casual contact.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?

The symptoms of hepatitis B include fatigue, poor appetite, fever, vomiting and occasionally joint pain, hives or rash. Urine may become darker in color, and then jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) may appear. Some individuals may experience few or no symptoms.

How soon do symptoms appear?

The symptoms may appear two to six months after exposure, but usually within three months.

For how long is a person able to spread the virus?

The virus can be found in blood and other body fluids several weeks before symptoms appear and generally persists for several months afterward. Approximately 10 percent of infected people may become long-term carriers of the virus.

What is the treatment for hepatitis B?

There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat a person once the symptoms appear. Generally, bed rest is all that is needed.

What precautions should hepatitis B carriers take?

Hepatitis B carriers should follow standard hygienic practices to ensure that close contacts are not directly contaminated by his or her blood or other body fluids. Carriers must not share razors, toothbrushes or any other object that may become contaminated with blood. In addition, susceptible household members, particularly sexual partners, should be immunized with hepatitis B vaccine. It is important for carriers to inform their dentist and health care providers.

How can hepatitis B be prevented?

A vaccine to prevent hepatitis B has been available for several years. It is safe, effective and is recommended for people in high-risk settings who have already been infected and infants who are born to mothers who are carrying the virus. It is also recommended that hepatitis B vaccine be universally administered to all children along with their routine childhood immunizations beginning at birth or two months age. A special hepatitis B immune globulin is also available for people who are exposed to the virus. In the event of exposure to hepatitis B, consult a doctor or the local health department.

Hepatitis C (serum hepatitis)

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C (formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by a recently identified blood borne virus. Other types of viral hepatitis include hepatitis A (formerly called infectious hepatitis), hepatitis B (serum hepatitis), hepatitis D (delta hepatitis) and hepatitis E ( a virus transmitted through the feces of an infected person). Approximately 200 cases of hepatitis C are reported in New York State each year.

Who gets hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C occurs most often in people who have received a blood transfusion or who have shared needles.

How is the virus spread?

Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C is spread by exposure to blood from an infected person, such as through a blood transfusion or sharing needles. The risk of sexual transmission has not been thoroughly studied but appears to be small. There is no evidence that the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted by casual contact, through foods or by coughing or sneezing.

What are the symptoms?

Some people experience appetite loss, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, vague stomach pain and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

How soon do symptoms occur?

Symptoms may occur from two weeks to six months after exposure but usually within two months.

When and for how long is a person able to spread hepatitis C?

Some people carry the virus in their bloodstream and may remain contagious for years. The disease may occur in the acute form and be followed by recovery or it may become chronic and cause symptoms for years.

What is the treatment for hepatitis C?

There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat people with the acute form of hepatitis C but the FDA has approved a drug called recombinant alpha interferon for treating people with chronic hepatitis C.

Is donated blood tested for this virus?

Since May 1990, blood donation centers throughout the U.S. have routinely used a blood donor screening test for hepatitis C. Widespread use of this test has significantly reduced the number of post-transfusion hepatitis C cases.

What are the possible consequences of hepatitis C?

Approximately 25 percent of people infected with hepatitis C virus will become sick with jaundice or other symptoms of hepatitis. Fifty percent of these individuals may go on to develop chronic liver disease.

How can the spread of hepatitis C be prevented?

People who have had hepatitis C should remain aware that their blood and possibly other body fluids are potentially infective. Care should be taken to avoid blood exposure to others by sharing toothbrushes, razors, needles, etc.

In addition, infected people must not donate blood and should inform their dental or medical care providers so that proper precautions can be followed. The risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis c virus has not been thoroughly investigated but appears to be minimal. Several studies suggest that spread seldom occurs from people with chronic hepatitis C disease to their steady sexual partners. Therefore, limitations on sexual activity with steady partners may not be needed. However, people with acute illness and multiple sexual partners may be at greater risk and should use condoms to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting hepatitis C as well as other sexually transmitted infections.

Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?

At the present time, a hepatitis C vaccine is not available.

What is herpes II?

Herpes II is a sexually transmitted viral infection, which often produces painful sores, usually in the genital area. Once infected, an individual may carry the virus and be subject to recurrent bouts of infection. Some estimate that as many as 20 percent of the adult population in the United States has been exposed to the virus.

Who gets herpes II?

Any person who has intimate sexual contact with an infected person can contract the infection. In addition, herpes II can be spread from an infected mother to her child during birth.

How is herpes II spread?

The herpes II is spread during sexual contact with an infected person who is secreting the virus in fluids from lesions or mucous membranes.

What are the symptoms of herpes II?

Typically, the first signs of herpes II is a cluster of blister-like lesions in the genital area (head of penis, labia, anus, cervix) which spread and merge, break and crust over within four to 15 days. The fluid from these itching, painful sores is highly infectious. Other frequent symptoms are painful urination, urethral or vaginal discharge and swollen lymph nodes. The first exposure or primary episode consists of headache, fever, chills and muscular weakness. Recurrent episodes are less severe and are limited to the affected area.

How soon do symptoms appear?

Some studies have shown that from one-half to two-thirds of people infected with the virus will have no symptoms. But, if they appear, local symptoms may be seen from two to 12 days after exposure.

When and for how long is a person able to spread herpes II?

People are most likely to transmit the virus when the lesions are evident. There is evidence, however, that the virus may be shed even when no symptoms of a recurrent episode are present.

Does past infection with herpes II make a person immune?

No. After the initial infection, the herpes II virus becomes dormant within the body. Symptoms may recur with varying frequency and are often associated with stress factors.

What is the treatment for herpes II?

Acyclovir, used orally, intravenously or topically, has been shown to reduce the shedding of herpes II virus, diminish pain and speed the healing of primary herpes lesions. In the oral form, this treatment also appears to shorten the duration of both primary and recurrent episodes.

What can a person or community do to prevent the spread of herpes II?

Avoidance of sexual contact with symptomatic individuals is an immediate, but only partial answer because herpes virus may be shed while the infected individual remains asymptomatic. Cesarean section is often recommended when primary or recurrent herpes II lesions occur in late pregnancy. Sexual relations should be approached responsibly:

See Related Link.