Safe Sex and Sex Related Discussions in Thailand

[QUOTE=Artfuldodger]Hey guys,

Newly arrived on the scene and just read about DG's situation. Now I don't want to be a shit stirrer, but having trawled this heaven sent activity for the past decade, I know a lot of these establishments DON'T do legit tests.

Every massage parlour will have their panel clinics which will provide standard HIV/STD tests. However, many of the clinics, in the pretext of saving a buck, will just approve the procedure without actually conducting a test. I'm not finger pointing at all of them, but some of them do this.

I've heard that story from a few gals so they leave to go to another. True story. So all you gentlemen out there, don't forget your hats. Fifteen minutes of sheer pleasure will render you a lifetime of regret.

Play safe![/QUOTE]

DG, no one talks about the chances of getting HIV from a woman who already has HIV. The plain fact is that it is easier for a woman to get HIV from a man than the other way around. Second, you don't automatically get HIV from an infected partner through having unprotected sex one time. According to one expert I spoke with a couple of years ago, the probability of HIV infection after one episode of unprotected sex with an infected woman is about 1 in 250 for the man. In contrast, the chances of infection through sharing needles is almost 100% if the needle is "hot."

THat said, lots of other factors will vastly increase the odds against you - such as if you already have another sexually transmitted infection or have some sort of sore or cut on your penis, been circumcised etc. It also depends on when the other person was infected - not immediately after infection but some time after being infected, the person will become much more infective than later.

The chances that the girl was infected is not high, simply because of the policies of establishments where girls work. I am not referring to the claims that bars or massage places test regularly - frankly speaking, it is so easy to fake negative tests in Thailand that these papers are not worth the paper they are written on. Instead, it is the fact that bars and massage parlors will fire anyone with any STD. The fact that they fire those with STDs makes it vastly less likely that you will encounter someone with HIV in that establishment.

What this boils down to is as follows: there are compelling reasons to use protection at all times when you are mongering but there is no reason to be unduly concerned about an accidental unprotected episode.

The chances that you were infected by one exposure is very small. These chances dramatically rise if you try unprotected sex with certain kinds of freelancers, ie those using drugs who don't care about themselves, those with multiple partners but don't really understand safe sex. Although with professional sex workers within establishments the chances of being infected through one accidental exposure are quite low (possibly lower than with the general public!), the reality is that repeated exposure will increase your chances of getting all sorts of STDs. And if you already have an STD (that you may not know yet about), you are much more likely to get HIV when you will inevitably become exposed to it after many many episodes of unprotected sex.

[QUOTE=Mangofan]Thanks for the reply. Any idea how much a circumcision or a frenuplasty would cost in Bangkok? I have BUPA health insurance through my school, but I'm not sure if they would cover a procedure like that.[/QUOTE]

BUPA Insurance is basically Blue Cross Insurance in the States, BUPA Insurance is the name in the UK. My assumption is that you have BUPA from Thailand thru the school you are teaching.

Personally, insurance here is much different than the States so I will say " you don't get what you think you got " Reading your policy I suggest would be a good idea. Insurance policy here comes in all different shape and sizes!

Your policy might not include " Outpatient " services and if the procedure is one then or course it isn't covered? But being Thailand even if it was a " Outpatient procedure " they would make it a " Overnight Procedure " for precaution and therefore make it cover? But I believe this procedure would fall within the " Exclusion " The insurance does not cover the admission resulting in the following.

1. Investigation or treatment for sexual dysfunction or sex change
4. Treatment to relieve symptoms commonly associated with ageing,
menopause or precaocious puberty.

You might be able to get it cover if you get the Doctor it is a necessary procedure. So it never hurts to ask?

Insurance in Thailand is a big rip-off, but if you have nothing it's still better to have something in my opinion. But companies like BUPA, AIA,(AIG) are American own companies and read the fine print and you will see it is loaded with provisions and exlusion never seen in the western world. In the States you have laws against such things but here it is the wild west to load the policies with what I call "grey areas "so they don't have to cover much. If you have a BUPA policy look at one of their exclusions wording for back problems, Exclusion (G) Degeneration of Disc, this would fall into a big grey area which no coverage is allow since 95% of us on retirement have this problem? The exclusion list goes on and on?

Good luck and God help us all, but why would he since we are here breaking nearly all the Ten Commandments!

LBM

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]BUPA Insurance is basically Blue Cross Insurance in the States, BUPA Insurance is the name in the UK. My assumption is that you have BUPA from Thailand thru the school you are teaching.

Personally, insurance here is much different than the States so I will say " you don't get what you think you got " Reading your policy I suggest would be a good idea. Insurance policy here comes in all different shape and sizes!

Your policy might not include " Outpatient " services and if the procedure is one then or course it isn't covered? But being Thailand even if it was a " Outpatient procedure " they would make it a " Overnight Procedure " for precaution and therefore make it cover? But I believe this procedure would fall within the " Exclusion " The insurance does not cover the admission resulting in the following.

1. Investigation or treatment for sexual dysfunction or sex change
4. Treatment to relieve symptoms commonly associated with ageing,
menopause or precaocious puberty.

You might be able to get it cover if you get the Doctor it is a necessary procedure. So it never hurts to ask?

Insurance in Thailand is a big rip-off, but if you have nothing it's still better to have something in my opinion. But companies like BUPA, AIA,(AIG) are American own companies and read the fine print and you will see it is loaded with provisions and exlusion never seen in the western world. In the States you have laws against such things but here it is the wild west to load the policies with what I call "grey areas "so they don't have to cover much. If you have a BUPA policy look at one of their exclusions wording for back problems, Exclusion (G) Degeneration of Disc, this would fall into a big grey area which no coverage is allow since 95% of us on retirement have this problem? The exclusion list goes on and on?

Good luck and God help us all, but why would he since we are here breaking nearly all the Ten Commandments!

LBM[/QUOTE]



Thanks for your reply. I have BUPA through my school and on the card it says what it covers. One of thie things it covers is "Surgery: 70,000 (Per Schedule)". Now when I went to the Urologist I asked the receptionist there if my insurance would cover the frenuplasty. I showed her my BUPA card and she said that it would cover it. I asked the doctor the same question, showing him my card. He guaranteed me that it would. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yes. Absolutely." Before the procedure I went out to reception again and the lady wrote down the amount: 10,000 baht. I asked again - is this covered by my insurance? Yes, of course.

After the procedure, a nurse walked me over to the cashier where I was to receive my meds. The cashier wrote down a number: 12,892 baht. I presented my BUPA card. "Sorry sir, it's not covered." I told her that I asked 3 times upstairs and they had told me that it was covered. Even the doctor said so. "Sorry sir, it's not covered." I explained again.

"You must pay now, and maybe you can get it back later when you call your insurance company."
"Well, I don't have any money, so I'm not paying."

At this point she calls someone to come down and talk to me. Some PR person from the international section of the hospital who tried to get me to pay. She informed me that they couldn't get ahold of BUPA, but would I mind paying now and this could be resolved later?

"I don't have any money to pay"
"What about your credit cards?"
"I don't have any credit cards."

When she finally realized that I wasn't about to pay my bill, she asked for my telephone number (which I gave) and said she would call me in a few days when they could get my insurance company on the phone. This was yesterday.

I'm not trying to skip out on the bill, but when I am guaranteed that the insurance company will cover a procedure by 2 different people (including a doctor) and then suddenly I am fucked when I try to check out, I'm not about to bend over and take it up the ass.

[QUOTE=Yin Yang]As already pointed out, tests may be done but they might not be reliable. Only having yourself checked is reliable (after one to two weeks for most STDs, two weeks for HIV with a PCR-test, otherwise three months). Of course it is also possible to take prophylactic measures, ie. Antibiotics for common STDs (eg. 1g azithromycin). As far as HIV is concerned there's also something called post-exposure prophylaxis (within 72hrs) but given your case my guess is that no doctor would consider the risk of infection high enough.[/QUOTE]This is a serious psycological problem. You think you're going to die and the doctor doesn't consider your risk high enough.

An accident happened to me with a prostitute form Ghana (condom broke inside her pussy we both didn't realize). While I was trying to calm down I realised next morning while showering that I had a kind of scratch an my penis.

Went to the doctor and exaggerated the accident in order to get this post-exposure prophylaxe for sure. He gave me the anticipated prescription and helped my through the next weeks with all the testing. Everything went fine.

Total damage: 2100 EUR (100 for the girl, 1500 for the PEP pills, 500 for all the tests and doctor's fees, I decided better not to ask my insurance company if they cover since I didn't want to be stated as a risk person in their files). Quite expensive for a few minutes of pleasure.

Mangofan,

Where you went wrong is like most people including me! Until you get fucked you just assume? When you said it is on your card " Surgery " yes it covers Surgery but the large coverage book your school didn't give you or you didn't read it? is my reference to the fine print! But if the fine print says the condition or procedure isn't covered then surely the surgery for it isn't going to be covered.

Your story I have heard a millions times by these so call hospitals personel!
" Can't get a hold of Buppa " that is why never just assume because the hospital tells you! Get the approval yourself by going to a Bupa office!

As for the hospital, I wouldn't give them anything that they can get their hands on to attach your wages etc... I would stand pad and stick to my guns and name all the individuals that told you yes along with blaming the individuals responsible for handling the billing who should have gotten the approval from Buppa prior to surgery! In your case, they lied! What is it can't get a hold of them or is it not covered? If they couldn't get a hold of them how would they know it wasn't covered? There is no such thing as can't get the approval! If they went ahead with the surgery prior to the approval that is their fucking problem. Let them come after you! when you are backed into the corner then pay up! If what you said is true you hold the cards now!

I have seen them do this before at the Bangkok/Pattaya promise you because they know but pull this type of shit knowing that a majority of people would pay up front and after it's your problem not theirs. They aren't the ones that got to deal with Buppa. Here get it in writing next time! There is also a hospital accreditation commission in Thailand which I would tell them you will file a report! only with them quoting you 10,000 with insurance then without for you Farang it is now 12,000 plus!

Stick to your guns and let this be a lesson to them. Even if they made a police report WTF are they going to do? Tell the police politely this is the hospital problem and yours they made the mistake no once but three times.
Be calm and use knowledge on them reverse the table.

Good luck, you should have not have dick around with your dick?

LBM

I say fuck them

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Mangofan,

If they couldn't get a hold of them how would they know it wasn't covered? [/QUOTE]


Exactly. I think they tried to get ahold of Bupa, couldn't, so they just said it wasn't covered hoping I'd pay up. I have the money, but fuck them - they told me it was covered. I'm not paying them the full amount. They don't have my passport or anything - all they have is a copy of my BUPA card, which does list my workplace. I do have an appointment on Saturday for the doctor to remove the sutures, so I have to go back. No phone call from them today but they'll probably try and call tomorrow.

Mangofan,

If the school gets involved just respond politely that this is a situation between me and the hospital. If I was you I would go to another hospital since you are going to have to pay for the removal anyway. Just tell them you have a problem with the hospital that did the procedure and heard that your hospital was good. Short and sweet!

Contact Bupa, not over the phone and ask them yourself if the procedure is covered, if so you are off the hook! If not ask them if they would have cover based on the coverage what your deductible would have been. Go back to the hospital and pay them this amount if they accept that is payment accepted! Personally I do not believe they try to contact them! The policy is clear and not on your card! This I would consider to be a cosmetic type surgery! Don't allow being in Thailand escape the fact that in nearly all Western countries insurance requires hospitals to have pre-approval of a procedure unless this is a emergency! Based on the amount of the procedure they lied knowing most would pay up because of the amount. If it was like 100,000 baht I bet you the procedure would never have been preform until they had approval. This is the hospital mistake!

If not tell them jokingly if they want to be paid, reverse the operation! return the goods since they lied!

Good luck, LBM

[QUOTE=Simian]THat said, lots of other factors will vastly increase the odds against you - such as if you already have another sexually transmitted infection or have some sort of sore or cut on your penis, been circumcised etc. It also depends on when the other person was infected - not immediately after infection but some time after being infected, the person will become much more infective than later.
[/QUOTE]

...."been circumcised".......it's the other way around......the claim is that circumcision lessens the chances of HIV infection....not the other way around.


[url]http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm[/url]

[QUOTE=Lover Boy #2]...."been circumcised".......it's the other way around......the claim is that circumcision lessens the chances of HIV infection....not the other way around.


[url]http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm[/url][/QUOTE]
Of course you are right.

Ying yang, I am interested in finding out what you can tell me about azithromycin as a prophylactic against gonorrhea (and chlamydia). I am planning on using a condom for all 'real sex,' but BJs are just not worth it with a condom IMHO.

What are the doses and regime you use? Where did you get the info? How much does it cost?

[quote=mangofan]went to the hospital today to see a urologist about the scar. he recommended a frenuplasty, so an hour later i was on the operating table. the worst part of it was the actual injection which went straight into the base of my cock - hurts like hell. but now i have a bandage around it (which comes off tomorrow). he said that i should be ready for action again in about 2-3 weeks.

total cost: 12,000 baht.

lesson learned: if you feel the girl biting down on your cock in [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord900][CodeWord900][/url], make her stop - no matter how close you are to cumming or how drunk you are.[/quote]

oi mate!

nice to know that the shit is done!
12000 baht? that's aprox. 240 euro! i thought it would be much cheaper. mine costed 300 euro (in holland).

ah well...so you are 'saving' for a big blast now... :d

all the best to you!

Dear Mongers,

Does any body has reliable information on massage parlors which set up their own STDs check on a regular basis? Annie's and Eden claim to do so. I've never been to Eden but for Annie's it seems to makes sense to me since the providers I know there behave like they have been well informeded on STDs and safe sex. Annie's is also one of the few licenced parlors.

What about the other places like Mango, Tulip, Snow white? Are the girls only required to show a test result once a year or is it a little more serious than that?

Are soapies, generally speaking, safer? Do they check? Do the services are more on the safer sex side (CBJ, never bareback.)?

Any piece of Info much appreciated!

Best,

K.

[QUOTE=Franco Cozzo]Ying yang, I am interested in finding out what you can tell me about azithromycin as a prophylactic against gonorrhea (and chlamydia). I am planning on using a condom for all 'real sex,' but BJs are just not worth it with a condom IMHO.
What are the doses and regime you use? Where did you get the info? How much does it cost?[/QUOTE]
I certainly wouldn't recommend using any antibiotics merely for prophylaxis. They have side effects and taking them without proper diagnosis may increase the chances of creating drug resistant bacteria strains. That being said, azithromycin is known to be very effective againt chlamydia (and, to some extent, gonorrhea) and can be taken in a single dose of 1g, which makes it practical to take it after some risky practices (such as BBBJ) if you feel worried. The drug is available over the counter in Thailand for around 500 Baht.

Anyone can recommend a good condom, ie., one that allows you to actually feel you are having sex? Needs to be larger than average as the ones I've tried squeeze so hard my dick goes numb.

I searched the forum with words like best/condom/sensitive but way to many reports come back that happen to have those key words but not about the subject.

I looked through the safe sex forum for 2010 but didn't find anything so I am doing a direct request.

I did find a 2009 report in the "General Reports" that recommended a couple but would like to get anyone else's suggestion.

Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=Slackerslacker]Anyone can recommend a good condom, ie., one that allows you to actually feel you are having sex? Needs to be larger than average as the ones I've tried squeeze so hard my dick goes numb.

I searched the forum with words like best/condom/sensitive but way to many reports come back that happen to have those key words but not about the subject.

I looked through the safe sex forum for 2010 but didn't find anything so I am doing a direct request.

I did find a 2009 report in the "General Reports" that recommended a couple but would like to get anyone else's suggestion.

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]


Hey Slackerslacker,

Try Pleasure Plus. Its maker is the Global Protection Corporation of Boston. Good quality without the rubber odor.

Cheers

A158