Published on Jun 27, 2024 | 9:30 AM
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As we celebrate Pride Month and honor the LGBTQ+ community's resilience and achievements, it's essential to prioritize our health and well-being.
Sexual health is a critical aspect of overall wellness, and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and diseases (STDs) plays a vital role. Below, we’ll outline practical tips to help LGBTQ+ individuals stay safe and informed about STI/STD prevention.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections primarily spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, as well as close physical contact.
Common STIs/STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and HPV. These infections can be transmitted via bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and even skin-to-skin contact. Many STIs/STDs can be asymptomatic, meaning individuals may not show any symptoms but can still transmit the infection to others.
Understanding how these infections are transmitted is crucial for prevention, emphasizing the importance of awareness, education, and proactive health measures in reducing the risk of infection and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Maintaining sexual health is vital for everyone, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some essential STI prevention methods to help reduce your risk of STIs/STDs and promote overall well-being.
Barrier devices, such as dental dams and condoms, prevent STI and STD transmission by providing a physical barrier that prevents the exchange of fluids and direct contact of genital areas.
Condoms, available as those worn on the penis and those inserted into the vagina, provide essential protection. Dental dams, thin pieces of latex or polyurethane, create a barrier during oral sex.
To maximize effectiveness and prevent STD and STI transmission, use barrier devices correctly: wear condoms from start to finish, check expiration dates and packaging integrity, and ensure dental dams cover the entire contact area without tearing or shifting.
Using water-based or silicone-based lubricants can help prevent condom breakage and reduce friction. Incorporating barrier devices into sexual practices is a crucial step in protecting yourself and your partners from infections, fostering a healthy and responsible approach to sexual health.
Regular testing is crucial for anyone who is sexually active. It helps detect STIs/STDs early, often before symptoms appear, allowing for prompt treatment and reducing the risk of transmission. Aim to get tested at least once a year, or more frequently if you have multiple partners.
Engaging in sexual activity while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can impair judgment and decision-making, increasing the risk of unsafe practices and STI/STD transmission.
It's important to make informed and consensual decisions about sexual activity, which is best achieved when sober. Consider alternatives to sex if you or your partner are intoxicated to ensure safety and mutual consent.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), one of the most popular STD prevention medications, is a medication that can significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV when taken consistently. It is recommended for individuals at higher risk of HIV exposure.
To start PrEP, consult with a healthcare provider who can guide you through the process and monitor your health. Adhering to the prescribed regimen is crucial for its effectiveness. PrEP is a powerful tool in HIV prevention and can be an important part of a comprehensive sexual health strategy.
Prioritizing your sexual health is essential, and taking proactive steps can make a significant difference.
At Call-On-Doc, we offer convenient same-day online doctor consultations for STI testing and PrEP prescriptions, ensuring you receive the care and support you need quickly and discreetly.
Take charge of your health with confidence—start your consultation now to receive the care you need.
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides.
When to get Tested for HIV
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, remains a significant global health concern. According to the CDC, 30,635 people were diagnosed in the United States in 2020, and it's estimated that over 1,189,700 Americans are living with the condition today with 87% of that number being aware. When it comes to the timely detection of HIV, the goal is to get screened after the window period. The window period is the time between potential exposure and when the test can accurately detect the related infection.
We can understand that the immediate reaction to a possible HIV infection is to get tested fast. However, HIV testing is somewhat different from others, with immediate or early testing proving inconclusive while doing so sometime after possible transmission proves far more accurate. Waiting the right amount of time after potential exposure to when you could test positive is important for accurate results. HIV also needs both screening and confirmation testing for the best possible treatment and follow-up procedures.
May 12, 2023 | 9:58 AM
What is DoxyPEP?
Every year, it's estimated that around 374 million people are infected with curable sexually transmitted infections, most notably syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. (1) Just in the United States alone, the number of annual infections concerning the same STIs hovers between 1.5 million and just below 2 million. (2) Such rising numbers, alongside concerns for antibiotic resistance STDs, have driven the scientific and healthcare communities towards advancing new methods of cures and spread prevention. That’s where the recent development of DoxyPEP has made such an impact on doctors and patients alike.
Designed to function similarly to a morning-after pill, DoxyPEP is an oral antibiotic that has proven effective against immediate exposure to bacterial sexually transmitted diseases. Most effective if taken within 24 hours of exposure, DoxyPEP is also known to reduce bacterial STDs if taken within 72 hours.
Nov 14, 2023 | 2:19 PM
What are the Chances of Catching an STD when Traveling?
While we don’t know exactly how many people catch a sexually transmitted disease when traveling, we do know that traveling and sex often go hand in hand. With one in three people engaging in sexual activity while on a trip along with the current STD transmission rate, it is common not only to get an STD but to get one while traveling, especially with the amount of individuals who do not practice safe sex. (1)
Mar 14, 2024 | 11:42 AM
When to get Tested for HIV
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, remains a significant global health concern. According to the CDC, 30,635 people were diagnosed in the United States in 2020, and it's estimated that over 1,189,700 Americans are living with the condition today with 87% of that number being aware. When it comes to the timely detection of HIV, the goal is to get screened after the window period. The window period is the time between potential exposure and when the test can accurately detect the related infection.
We can understand that the immediate reaction to a possible HIV infection is to get tested fast. However, HIV testing is somewhat different from others, with immediate or early testing proving inconclusive while doing so sometime after possible transmission proves far more accurate. Waiting the right amount of time after potential exposure to when you could test positive is important for accurate results. HIV also needs both screening and confirmation testing for the best possible treatment and follow-up procedures.
May 12, 2023 | 9:58 AM
What is DoxyPEP?
Every year, it's estimated that around 374 million people are infected with curable sexually transmitted infections, most notably syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. (1) Just in the United States alone, the number of annual infections concerning the same STIs hovers between 1.5 million and just below 2 million. (2) Such rising numbers, alongside concerns for antibiotic resistance STDs, have driven the scientific and healthcare communities towards advancing new methods of cures and spread prevention. That’s where the recent development of DoxyPEP has made such an impact on doctors and patients alike.
Designed to function similarly to a morning-after pill, DoxyPEP is an oral antibiotic that has proven effective against immediate exposure to bacterial sexually transmitted diseases. Most effective if taken within 24 hours of exposure, DoxyPEP is also known to reduce bacterial STDs if taken within 72 hours.
Nov 14, 2023 | 2:19 PM
What are the Chances of Catching an STD when Traveling?
While we don’t know exactly how many people catch a sexually transmitted disease when traveling, we do know that traveling and sex often go hand in hand. With one in three people engaging in sexual activity while on a trip along with the current STD transmission rate, it is common not only to get an STD but to get one while traveling, especially with the amount of individuals who do not practice safe sex. (1)
Mar 14, 2024 | 11:42 AM
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