We have added this page due to the rising number of STD's
being passed through the swinging population.
The swinging scene for as long as we can remember has been
pretty much clear of STD's, but lately due to the increasing numbers of people
in the scene the incidence of infection is a growing problem. In the past most
people in the scene knew each other before they played, but these days a
large proportion of swinging is happening in clubs with complete strangers whose
contact details are not collected. This means that should someone find out they
have caught an infection they have no way of telling anyone they played that
they may have passed the infection on to them, or on to others.
There are lots of myths about STD's this page will deal
with some of them, as well as passing on details of places where help can be
obtained and support found.
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Myth - I only had oral sex, so I'm OK.
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Fact - STD's are not only passed on through
intercourse - some, including Chlamydia, can be passed on through oral sex.
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Myth - I have cold sores, so I cannot get genital
herpes.
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Fact - You can get herpes simplex - the same virus
that causes cold sores, on the genitals
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Myth - HIV/AIDS is only in found in the Gay/Homosexual
scene.
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Fact - The numbers of cases of HIV in the heterosexual
population is increasing, it is true this is mainly in immigrants from
sub-Sahara
Africa, but it is appearing in the general population as well.
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Myth - I caught Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, syphilis from a toilet seat.
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Fact - not 100% impossible, but probably 99.99999% impossible. If you
or your partner has caught a STD, they have caught it through sexual contact
with someone else.
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Myth - I have no discharge, so I have no infection.
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Fact - The most prevalent STD in the USA now is Chlamydia. It does not
always have any visible signs, but if you are female and have Chlamydia you
stand a high risk of becoming infertile, Many of the other STD's also do not
show signs in between 10-40% of cases.
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Myth - We only played using sex toys, so we cannot catch anything.
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Fact - If one partner is infected it is possible to pass the infection
on via an unwashed sex toy - Genital Warts are often spread this way.
If any health workers with a knowledge of STD's have the time and the
inclination to help me keep this page up to date please get in touch.
There is no shame attached to
attending a special clinic for a test, there is shame attached to dying
needlessly from not taking the time to have a check up. Jo and I get checked
regularly. Happily so far I have only had NSU's, Jo has been in the clear.
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NSU - is a non specific Urinary infection. This can be caused by having
sex with someone who has the infection, but also by eating spicy foods,
drinking to much alcohol especially in sunny weather. The treatment varies
from nasty drugs for 2 weeks to three heavy duty bunker buster tablets which
should clear infection within 7-14 days.
With all infections, remember to go back for the follow up. Failure to do
so could mean that the infection is still there - and you could re-infect
