If you have been following me, you know that while I might have sex quite often with a variety of different guys (what gay guy doesn’t) I also am a proponent of playing safe every time. I follow this, and every time I have sex protection is used.

Turns out that isn’t always going to protect you 100% of the time. Sometimes things can be transmitted by touch…as I learned.

A little over a week or so ago, I went to get tested as I regularly do (as you should do). I felt like I would have clean bill of health, but even so it is always best to checkup every 3-6 months (if not more often if you can). They have rapid results for some of the tests, including HIV. My HIV results were negative as were all of my other rapid tests.

The other set of tests is determined by a urine sample, anal swab, and blood sample. The clinic I went to, and HIGHLY recommend to anyone in the San Francisco area, Magnet is a great facility and the people there were really informative and professional. When you leave, they tell you they won’t be calling you unless there is a positive test result.

Much to my shock, I got a call from a number that wasn’t in my phone….it was Magnet. I was at work and tried to be discrete about the call once they called. I got so scared and thought maybe they were just calling to say nothing was wrong……..

Well I was wrong…my worst fear was presenting itself to me. The told me what I had and that I should come in ASAP to get medication. They offer the medication for free, and I go right after work and pick it up. I talked to the counselor who explained how it can happen, and that I was fortunate that I didn’t have any symptoms.

I was diagnosed with chlamydia in my anus, which apparently can be spread by contact with an infected partner with their sexual organ. Turns out the fooling around before you throw on that condom where they are rubbing their cock against your hole can lead to the spread of STD’s….I am going to be sure to be extra careful from now on.

They gave me a set of 14 pills (doxycycline hyclate) to be taken 2x per day with food. Here is where I was scared…was this permanent? Would I be stuck with this my entire life? If it was just in my anus would I be forced to top all the time?

The counselor at Magnet was great in answering all of these questions. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and others are consider the “common colds” of sexually active people. They are very easily cured and treatment is simple. You don’t always know you have it, and it is gone once you are finished with treatment.

Now you can get it again, so you do have to be sure to get tested regularly, and if you experience the symptoms, they can be quite painful and disgusting (I’ve been told and seen pics online researching this).

So, that is where I’ve been the past week. Tomorrow is my last day of treatment. I was put on as I like to call it “no bed” rest for a week…I haven’t been on Craigslist, A4A, Manhunt, or any other site in the past week. It has been good for me since I’m staying at the gym longer and catching up on sleep….but it also SUCKS!

Also, if you find out you have contracted an STD, you should contact any partners you have had since your last checkup; it is the responsible thing to do. Granted this is embarrassing, but you could also prevent the spreading of it to others that your ex partners come in contact with.

That being said….I will end the post as I titled it….Play safe, and get tested.