You see him there, a hunk-o-man-meat who you have been cruising for most of the night at the Pride party. He is leaning up against the wall, nursing his vodka redbull, watching the crowd, bopping to the doof-doof of the dj’s stylings. His sightlines finally drift over in your direction. You smile and nod. He raises his glass, and nods back, then gestures for you to come over.
‘Yes!’ you think to yourself, ‘I’m in!’
Chat, chat, chat…
‘Do you wanna lift home?’
The next thing you know you have both done the deed and are basking in the after-glow sipping Tia Maria in your small yet tastefully decorated boudoir … but in what else are you basking: the clap? Syphilis? HIV?
Pride is our time. It is a time to get excited, to explore and get raunchy and, most importantly, to enjoy ourselves. But, do yourself a favour, and get a sexual-health check-up at the end of Pride month. Book an appointment with your sexuality-friendly GP or sexual health clinic now to avoid the rush and the frustration of waiting times.
You can make sure you’re healthy even before the fun begins. The WA AIDS Council is happy to announce that it will have a mobile pre-test discussion van at Fair Day this year operating between 10am and 4pm. Cruise through our stall, then have a confidential chat with one of our support officers, get a signed pathology form for a check up at the closest Clinipath to you for your urine and blood tests. If you missed the Fair Day, you can always come in to our Sauna Clinics on Mondays, or make an appointment at with WA AIDS Council for a pre-test discussion with a blood test conducted at Clinipath across the road.
A blood test is the only sure way to know if you have come into contact with syphilis. You can’t tell by looking if a person has it, or even if you have it. Infectious syphilis has tripled over the last year in Perth.
Rule of thumb: the more sexual partners you have, the more chance there is that you have come into contact with syphilis. But, fear not! It is easily treated these days, so a test and two weeks later you will be back to your old self again.
For more information about testing options, sexual health or how to get into the testing van at Fair Day contact WAAC on 9482 0000.
Steve Fragomeni
Education Officer, Gay/MSM Program
Community Education and Prevention Services
WA AIDS Council
