Safe Sex and Sex Related Discussions in Thailand

[SubCmdr]

In my opinion

Testing is good. You get to know your status. But unless your partner gets tested and trust her to give you the straight scoop about her sexual health status, then you are playing STI roulette with your dick. Everyone here is adult and knows the risks. But a girl who is asymptomatic and that you repeat with can give you a nasty surprise. It is only a matter of time before you roll a hard six. Just speaking from experience. After going through testing and treatment. A box of condoms costs a whole lot less. Now that I have retested for 8 different STIs and know my status is negative, I will be using them on a strict basis from now on (just my new personal choice).

After what I have been through it is no longer worth the risk!

[HorseTrader]

This is just a reminder to get tested for STDs and a recommendation to consider getting it done at Red Cross in Bangkok, as described my original post. I went with another punter and he was finished in 30 minutes. Mine took 40 minutes because on my last visit the Red Cross staff typed some of my passport information incorrectly. I had tests for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Results were received via email within a few hours and cost was 1130 baht (I paid cash). The option for just HIV and syphilis is much less expensive and results are received within about 2 hours.

An alternative is to get at-home tests, but they are not cheap. Days prior, I bought an HIV test kit from Boots, paid a good chunk of money, and my results were inconclusive. That was wasted time and money.

One of the good experiences I had last month in Thailand was STD testing at the Red Cross in Bangkok. I was fortunate that a local punter friend went with me, so it was an easy first time experience for me. Though it isn't as easy as paying big money at a private clinic like Pulse, it is a whole lot cheaper. This is my guide to using that Red Cross.

1. Finding it. Use Google Maps and find it. It's labeled as the "Red Cross Aids Research Centre" on Ratchadamri Road.
...
...
...
9. Password. They will give you a password to open your emailed results, which should be your birthdate using the Thai calendar. In my case, they messed it up, but that was OK.

In the end, I was pleased at the whole experience. Oh, yes, we were both negative on all tests.

[Explorer8939]

There are so many strains of Hepatitis viruses that I doubt any vaccine can provide any protection.

Hepatitis A is very common, spread by food or mouth kissing. It's safe to assume everyone in 3rd world countries carries some strains of Hep A and is immune from their infection and symptoms.

Hepatitis c is rarer but can lead to liver cancer. I know a few perfectly healthy people who got Hep see infection by sex and died within 2 years, even with aggressive experimental treatments. I am not aware of any effective vaccines or treatments against Hep see.

You are correct. My hepatitis A vaccine only protects me against Hepatitis A. But that's the variant that is going around in Pattaya.

[Captain Solo]

There are so many strains of Hepatitis viruses that I doubt any vaccine can provide any protection.

Hepatitis A is very common, spread by food or mouth kissing. It's safe to assume everyone in 3rd world countries carries some strains of Hep A and is immune from their infection and symptoms.

Hepatitis c is rarer but can lead to liver cancer. I know a few perfectly healthy people who got Hep see infection by sex and died within 2 years, even with aggressive experimental treatments. I am not aware of any effective vaccines or treatments against Hep see.

[Asian Rain]

Any indication for Pattaya? Pulse clinic charges 9400, seems way too much.

Pulse is overpriced for everything in my experience. Not really familiar with Pattaya, but you can try a search for Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. They are advertising a package for Gardaeil9. Probably best to call them to confirm details that it covers the 3-dose regimen. Good luck, AR.

[ZofoMofo]

One of my regulars was hospitalized for Hepatitis-A recently; although I haven't seen her for a while, my feeling is if one lady has Hep-A, its probably going around. So I got the vaccine. No after-effects, no pain.

They also have a Hep be vaccine. Both require a booster after one month. Hep be requires a second booster after six months.

Where I went (Walgreens in the USA) they had the Hep A / be in a single shot combo.

Still no vaccine for Hep see.

[Safado70]

Indeed. Getting genital warts might be considered more debilitating to mongering than HIV. There is no pill for HPV, only vax. You can get the Gardasil9 vaccine easily in BKK. A couple locations that offer the vax quick and no-questions-asked are MedConsult (5500 bhat per dose) and WellMed (6500 bhat per dose) clinics. I have also seen packages offered at many local hospitals, but didn't see a cost advantage.

Any indication for Pattaya? Pulse clinic charges 9400, seems way too much.

[Explorer8939]

One of my regulars was hospitalized for Hepatitis-A recently; although I haven't seen her for a while, my feeling is if one lady has Hep-A, its probably going around. So I got the vaccine. No after-effects, no pain.

[Asian Rain]

HPV's are one of the STD classes that scare me the most. Warts are not something I want if I can be vaccinated against getting them. However, I'm 61 and currently in the USA, the HPV vaccination is available only for men up to age 45. So my doctor won't allow me to get the vaccine anyway.

What do fellow mongers do to assure you don't get unexpected souvenirs when it comes to HPV's? Do you get the vaccine there? I've read about medications many of you take daily that keep away other STD's but do they also block HPV's?

Indeed. Getting genital warts might be considered more debilitating to mongering than HIV. There is no pill for HPV, only vax. You can get the Gardasil9 vaccine easily in BKK. A couple locations that offer the vax quick and no-questions-asked are MedConsult (5500 bhat per dose) and WellMed (6500 bhat per dose) clinics. I have also seen packages offered at many local hospitals, but didn't see a cost advantage. Before you run off and take the shots, consider the following:

1. Gardasil9, which covers the most genotypes, only covers 9 genotypes (hence the 9 in the name). However, there are 29 genotypes of HPV. So getting the vax will protect against only 7 of 14 high risk genotypes and only 2 of 15 low risk types.

2. Before you get the vax, you should get tested for the 29 genotypes and ensure that you are clear for the genotypes that Gardasil protects against. Gardasil9 protects against genotypes 16,18, 31,33, 45,52, 58,6, 11. The first 7 are the high risk genotypes. For the other 20 genotypes, there is no vaccine or prevention other than "safe sex".

3. It is correct that the HPV vax is contraindicated for men above 45. This is because of the high liklihood that an older person has been exposed already. However, if you have a high risk profile (eg frequent barebacking of prostitutes), then a doctor should recommend due to risk profile. You can try to convince your US doctor, but you need to be blunt about the basis of your risk.

4. Getting the vax is not a one-and-done prototol. You need to get 3 shot-in-the-arm doses. After you get the first shot, you get the second shot after one month and the third shot after 6 months.

5. Last, before doing anything, do your research. Google has much more detail to prepare you before testing and consultation.

Not a simple silver bullet for sure, but well worth it for those who are frequent fliers on Bareback Airlines. Enjoy, AR.

[PDXphatbeat]

I'm stateside and planning my first trip later this year to Thailand and / or Vietnam (want to see and experience both!

HPV's are one of the STD classes that scare me the most. Warts are not something I want if I can be vaccinated against getting them.

However, I'm 61 and currently in the USA, the HPV vaccination is available only for men up to age 45. So my doctor won't allow me to get the vaccine anyway.

What do fellow mongers do to assure you don't get unexpected souvenirs when it comes to HPV's? Do you get the vaccine there? I've read about medications many of you take daily that keep away other STD's but do they also block HPV's?

Thank you.

[MomoFarang]

If post prep (200 MG) take ASAP after sex.

That's a rather funny involuntary oxymoron.

PREP stands for Pre Exposure prophylaxis. "Post prep" would be PEP Post Exposure Prophylaxis.

[Newton York]

Look dudes, let's be honest here. Most of this here on this forum are ancient as fuck. I'm super old, it's amazing I haven't had a heart attack yet. At our age, are we really that concerned with all this? How many years do any of us have left? We fucked up the world, and young people are going to have to deal with the mess we're leaving behind. I fucking love that! If my life is miserable, everyone else's should be too.

[MomoFarang]

Be careful, DoxyPREP is effective against bacterial infection, but no more than 40-50% against gonorrhea.

There have been numerous studies, Gonorrhoea being controversial across the field.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...01731025004582

[XXL]

Should we take first dose before starting the adventure. Please enlighten. Thanks.

If post prep (200 MG) take ASAP after sex.

If pre prep (100 MG / day) take every day at the same hour.

[HorseTrader]

Be careful, DoxyPREP is effective against bacterial infection, but no more than 40-50% against gonorrhea.

Thanks for that. Have the results of the double blind study been published? I'd like to read it. Gonorrhea has become tough to cure in recent years, in 2000 it was reliably cured by a week of doxy. Now it's a course of oral plus an injection.