A: Syphilis is on the rise in the Chicago-land area among men who have sex with men. Since syphilis can be transmitted by all forms of sex, including oral sex, it is important to know ways of protecting yourself against getting it.
First off, the risk for syphilis is directly related to the number of sex partners you have: The more sex partners, the greater the risk on contracting it. Having more sex with fewer partners reduces your risk of getting syphilis.
Also, of course, abstinence is the only surefire way to avoid getting syphilis or other STDs. However, if you're sexually active, using condoms consistently and correctly for oral, anal and vaginal sex is your best bet for staying sexually healthy.
But we all know that advice only works for some of us. So, one of the most important things you can do, if you're sexually active with more than one monogamous partner, is get regular STD checkups at least every six months. Syphilis and other bacterial STDs (like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia) are curable with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Syphilis testing is free at the Howard Brown walk-in clinic and at outreach locations like Steamworks (on Tuesdays from 4-7) and Hideaway (ask for times and location).
Another thing you can do to reduce your risk of coming into contact with syphilis is keep an eye out for small painless chancres (shank-er) on your or your partner’s cock, ass, and mouth. A chancre usually shows up 2-12 weeks after being exposed. There may have more than one, or a person may have chancres and not notice them because they are inside the anus. They are usually not painful. The sores will go away after several weeks without treatment, but the person would still be infected and able to spread syphilis.
Check out GetTestedChicago for even more info and testing locations.
[thanks to Howard Brown Health Center for this info]
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