Gay Men's Health: Scotland's Charity for Gay Men |introduction

WELCOME TO GAY MEN’S HEALTH

SCOTLAND’S CHARITY FOR GAY MEN

INTRO

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just enjoy sex and not have to worry about catching anything or passing anything on? Unfortunately as gay and bisexual men, sexually transmitted infections can be very much a part of the scenery insofar as our sex lives are concerned.

Lots of guys find that in terms of their own knowledge about sexual health ... from knowing how best to avoid STIs to knowing how to get them treated when they do appear ... the more they know about STIs the less stressful and therefore more enjoyable sex can be.

These pages are provided for you in the hope that you will have a better idea of how to avoid problems as best you can, and that you’ll know what to do if and when things go wrong. Armed with this knowledge we hope you’ll find that you can go about the important business of having as much horny, dirty and/or fulfilling sex as you like - without being unduly stressed or worried.

Here is a list of some of the most common STIs for gay and bi guys in Scotland to be aware of at the moment.

N.B. If you are worried that you may have caught something already, there can often be a temptation to try and look up your symptoms on the internet. Whilst this is a fairly normal thing to do, it can often just add to the stress. If you find you are worrying about something specific, our best advice if you notice anything unusual or have any other concerns is to make an appointment at your nearest GUM clinic, or make use of one of their walk-in services as soon as you can.

We also strongly recommend scheduling a regular checkup at least once every six months.