Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: ukmicky on 25/08/2005 21:21:50

Title: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 25/08/2005 21:21:50
Prevention is better than cure.

The best way to prevent and eventually wipe out the transmission of, Aids, Chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis, hepatitis etc is to compulsory test everyone, and all new entrants into our country

Anyone found to have an untreatable infection should be given a small tattoo on there inner thigh so any sexual partners would be able to see it.
It would wipe out most new cases of STDs in this country and save hundreds of millions of pounds.
-----------
So the question is

Should everyone be tested for STDs, and should all those found to have an STD be made to carry a small tattoo on there inner thigh as a warning to others.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: gecko on 26/08/2005 00:40:33
its a great idea scientificly, but people with STDs may feel its a violation of their rights. another issue is some STDs, esspecially herpes, can be transmitted some times and not others depending on outbreaks. another thing is aids and im sure other diseases can be transferred to babies born to infected mothers.

if it was actually carried out, it could drasticly reduce growth of STDs, maybe... but one must consider some people would take their chances and feel a condom is enough, others may be intoxicated or otherwise not notice the tattoo, and spread the disease. and then there are people with the disease without a tatoo, how often would these people be checked?

not to mention it would cost large amounts of money and a huge effort to actually test every person in any country.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 26/08/2005 02:29:27
It would never eradicate STDs but it could go a long way to making it less prevalent.
I think most people would look for the tattoo and sooner or later it would become second nature to do so, and if someone didn’t look and caught something then when there re-test date came round say every 5 years it would mean them getting a tattoo preventing them from passing it on to all but the stupid.

I could be wrong and I’m sure someone will tell me if I am, but if a child is born by cesarean section i think it can prevent them from catching aids from their mothers but in the end if they did catch aids then it would mean them getting a tattoo.

If the people with the infections felt that they were being picked on by having a tattoo then make the people without an infection have a tattoo also but a different one that can be change if they catch an infection.
The cost of the tests would be far less than the future cost due to infections. It would be the best way forward for the country and even the world, especially when you consider how widespread the HIV virus has become in such a short time.
Think of the lives it would save.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: VAlibrarian on 26/08/2005 02:37:55
It is a concept which in my view would reduce transmission. It is also however probably not acceptable to majorities of voters in most Western representative government nations.

The "status quo" in most nations with populations of HIV+ individuals is that some of the HIV+ individuals do not know that they carry the disease. They should know, because they contracted it through their risky behaviors, but they do not know or do not wish to know. So they pass it along with no feelings of guilt. Mandatory testing would eliminate this situation, and a tattoo would perhaps decrease willingness of others to become infected.

You would think that this would not be necessary. But the sex urge in humans is more powerful than the urge to survive in cases such as HIV wherein the carrier is not obviously ill until the late stages. Also, in the case of prostitution, having sex IS survival, because that is where the money for a plate of rice comes from.
The human race is in big trouble, especially in India, China, Russia, and Nigeria. Those are the nations that will be struck by the next "wave" of HIV.

chris wiegard
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 26/08/2005 03:08:34
Thats why we elect our goverments, so they can make the tough decisions, there are a lot of laws in the uk that i'm not happy with but i have to live with them because i have no choice too.
The problem with Aids is it has already got out of control and unless drastic measure's are taken now then it could become as prevalent in the western world as it is in africa. Which would mean no sensible person would have sex with somebody unless they could prove they didnt have aids.  so the goverments may as well make it compulsary to take a test and get a tattoo.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: drkev on 26/08/2005 11:35:12
This has been tried before back in 1938 a man named Adolf Hitler decided that certain groups in society should have "tattoos" or markings to show that they belonged to these groups.

What about human rights? What about the rights of a person to be able to walk the street without fear of persecution.

Your idea would not erradicate STDs because you are implying that only immigrants carry STDs. You are also forgetting that someone with an STD can rape someone therefore your stupid tattoo idea wouldn't work.

The only way to erradicate STDs and AIDS is through proper health education. By ensuring people use contraceptives and practice safe sex and by ensuring that IV drug abusers do not share needles.

We should be providing contraceptives completely free of charge and we should be providing clean needles to IV drug abusers.

In my medical career I worked with AIDS patients and didn't become infected because I used proper infection control procedures.

I always practice safe sex and always have a sexual health check after every partner.

This is how we erradicate STDs and AIDS. The solution you are suggesting borders on racism and communism.

Live long and Love life

Kevin Fisher
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: Corbeille on 26/08/2005 12:22:46
Nicely said Dr Kev.

Little England is sadly anti-immigrant. Readers of the Sun and Daily mail are brainwashed with all this crap about immigrants being the source of all evil in the country.

If it wasn't for immigrants there would be no cheap labour, no supermarket price wars, no low taxes, no minimum wage ( or less) workers cleaning our hospitals and working in restaurants and hotels.

See immigrants as the US sees them - as human capital. Do you think the US invited over the "poor and huddled masses" to give them a nice long holiday? more like a workforce of Italians and Jews to be exploited.

What is the most successful country in history?

The USA. Founded upon waves of immigration.


p.s - tattoos can be removed!





"They're all animals anyway. All the animals come out at night"
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: neilep on 26/08/2005 14:29:59
...and when the person is STD free....is the removal of said tattoo (which can costs 1000s) going to be free of charge ?...and scar free ?

....personally I think they should have the tattoo on their forehead and made to carry a placard....even better would be to have the placard surgically attached to their back as carrying it around would be heavy on the arms, and having it attached would leave them ' arms free '

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 26/08/2005 18:13:09
TO drkev & Corbeille

What about the rights of the people who haven’t got an infection and practice Safe sex, and catch STD’s from people who knowingly have an infection
Also there isn’t any such thing as safe sex, Are you trying to tell me you have never had a condom break. Maybe I’m just big ?.

 And if it could virtually eliminate STD’S from our countries and future generations are you saying it wouldn’t be worth it.

It’s nothing like Hitler, we’re talking about life threatening and contagious virus’s here.
Not ethnic cleansing. It has got nothing to do with racism

And it has also got nothing to do with the persecution of migrants,
 And excuse me but where was i implying   "that only immigrants carry STDs".
I said everyone in the country would have to be tested including any immigrants who are welcomed into our countries

[:)] And as for the English not liking immigrants we have welcomed more immigrants into the UK than almost every country in the world including the USA.

I and I also said but not in so many words, the tattoo is placed somewhere that only the holder and the person having sex with them can see,  an intimate place hidden away  from everyone’s view ,except the holders  a  doctors  or a close sexual partner .

--------------------------------
Neil
I also did say untreatable infections, in other words infections that can’t be cured and will always contagious.[:)]

And if in the future a cure is found, then as it will only be a small tattoo it can always be lazered off
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: neilep on 26/08/2005 18:46:30
quote:
Originally posted by ukmicky


Neil
I also did say untreatable infections, in other words infections that can’t be cured and will always contagious.[:)]

And if in the future a cure is found, then as it will only be a small tattoo it can always be lazered off




DOH !!...sorry !!...[;)]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: chris on 27/08/2005 12:05:21
Okay, here's a question for you.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) causes cold sores and is carried by 90% of adults worldwide.

HSV-1 is also a close relative of HSV-2, which traditionally causes genital herpes (and watch out those of you in America because studies there have revealed that 1 woman in 4 in your country has antibodies to HSV-2, indicating past exposure to genital herpes !).

But HSV-1 can also be transmitted below the belt by, as one delighteful olf book I read once put it, "more recherche forms of sexual congress".

That's right, we're diagnosing huge numbers of people with genital herpes lesions now caused by the cold-sore version of herpes.

So should we therefore put a tattoo on 90% of adults, or just ban oral sex ?!

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 27/08/2005 15:24:55
CHRIS
That’s where you the experts would come in, I’m not a doctor, and I don’t know which STD's can be cured and which can't. Or which ones would benefit from the scheme.
So doctors like you who would have to decide if a particular virus could be included or not.
My idea may be extreme but prevention is better than cure and taking aids as an example.
my idea could slash transmission rates in many countries if they adopted the scheme.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: neilep on 27/08/2005 16:02:03
NO NO NO NO !!...we can NOT ban oral sex !!!..GULP !!!!

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: gecko on 28/08/2005 05:23:15
i think its really unfair and extreme to call someone hitler for this idea. it seems like anytime someone doesnt agree the other side is "hitler". i think its really disrespecful to the severity of WW2 and genocide to say that.

i know people will feel its against their rights, and it is. but as someone said, drastic measures have to be taken. i would most certainly carry this tatoo if proven positive, rather than allow a terrible incurable disease to spread.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: VAlibrarian on 29/08/2005 00:37:14
My memory of HIV's history extends to the early 1980s when it was first noted in the USA. This arrival resulted in a very unproductive dialog which has continued to the present day. The original dialog took place between the U.S. gay community (with some exceptions) who desired sexual freedom at all costs at that time- and the Reagan administration, which flirted with saying that HIV was God's judgement on gay behaviors. Both positions are clearly absurd. HIV is an organism, not a judgement- and in time cautious sex behaviors became the main method of slowing the spread of HIV.

I think it is possible to argue, now that HIV is not always a "death sentence", that the effort to protect the privacy of HIV+ individuals now protects the HIV organism more than it protects humans. But I will admit that prejudice is strong in some communities, and I will not accuse those who value privacy of being fools. I just think that HIV laughs at us when we value other things over detroying it.

chris wiegard
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: neilep on 29/08/2005 01:58:33
I'm just not comfortable with compulsory marking of a human being because they are ill or carrying a disease.

Tattoos can be camouflaged and disguised too....

...Can you imagine that perhaps a form of tattoo identification protocol between consentual lovers will be de rigueur !! ?

.....there simply must be a better way...there has to be.

I just can not imagine being ordered to report to a place and be forcibly tattoed. It would not be fair to compel someone who has no wish and no intention to pass on their disease to undergo a procedure.

Now if people volunteer to be marked then perhaps that could be a start...as a trial.....and then a referendum.

Certainly education of personal hygiene would be beneficial and perhaps more stringent medical practices be strongly advised, public awareness via media etc.



(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: VAlibrarian on 29/08/2005 03:35:19
How about the traditional means of dealing with STDs in a public health setting, which has been done for decades. When someone tests positive for HIV, you ask him who his partners were, then you ask them to come in and get tested.
Now expand this. Why not ask everyone to get tested? Those who test negative have the comfort of knowing they are in the clear. Those who test positive have received bad news- but they will no longer be able to pass on the disease in ignorance of the harm they do, and they will begin to recieve antiviral drugs before their health is compromised.

Let's forget about the tattoo. It's a distraction from the main issue.

chris wiegard
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 29/08/2005 04:37:24
StatisticS are a bit out of date so you may have to add a few million.

It is thought that more than one million people are living with HIV in the USA and that more than half a million have died after developing AIDS

An estimated 53,000 adults were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2003, of whom 14,300 (27%) were unaware of their infection.
In 2004, there were at least 6,973 new diagnoses of HIV, contributing to a total of 72,938 since the epidemic began (as of the end of June 2005). The 2004 number will rise as further reports are received.

UNAIDS estimates that more than 2 million people were living with HIV in Europe at the end of December 2004.

An estimated 25 million adults and children were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2003, and an estimated twelve million children have been orphaned by AIDS.


So what’s the answer because education hasn’t worked, and I doubt it ever will unless the situation got so bad that everyone was to scared to have sex

What would you do if in the future  1 out of 10 or even 1 in 5 people in this country had aids or HIV, it could happen?
What advice would you give to your children to prevent them from catching aids or HIV? Don’t say Safe sex because there isn’t any such thing. And even if there was crossing your fingers and hoping they listened to you may not be enough.
 
.
The problem is people these days don’t listen to the warnings. The only time people think about STDs etc is when they have to take that trip down to the clinic.  
You can educate someone as much as you like, but the moment that quick shag comes along all that education is forgotten about.
Something needs to be done; I don’t want my son and daughter to live a life of fear every time they meet a new partner, or when the condom breaks.

We’ve all seen how quickly HIV/aids have got out of control in parts of Africa.

And with the generation of youths that are coming through now the same could quite easily happen here. (Apologies if you’re a good guy OR girl)

Sometimes hard decisions have to taken, decisions that not everyone will agree with.
But sometimes when the benefits are so great , when the majority of people  in the country can only benefit, them decisions should be taken .

How would you prevent what’s happening in Africa happening here, and you’ve only got one chance because finding out that your idea hasn’t worked ten years down the line is too late.
When we’re faced with what we could be facing decisive decisions have got to be taken now!

[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]
Ps  I love spell check
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: MissB on 29/08/2005 07:12:05
Ok.. here's a good idea.. instead of denying people their civil rights, branding them with the "scarlet letter" and condeming them to a life of shame and guilt. How about.. QUIT BEING A **** AND HAVING SEX WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW!! and yes, men can be sluts too. Be monogomouse, make sure you know your partner. Take time to care and maybe go to a Dr. apt. with them. DUH.. interesting concept huh?
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: gecko on 30/08/2005 04:28:54
thats pretty ignorant missB, its very possible to carry HIV and some other diseases without knowing it, not seeing symptoms for years or  not seeing signs ever. so if you "know your partner" and are monogomous with them, its NOT enough. expecting every person to go to the doctors with their partner and get tested for diseases before having sex is unreasonable.

you talk of living with shame and guilt of the HIV tatoo, but you say "quit being a ****" as if every infected person were one. thats a value judgement, doesnt belong on a scientific discussion, and is a gross thing to say. even  for someone who has sex with people they dont know, that is their goddamn business and its not for you to say that they deserve to be infected. this disease is terrible and none of us, even under the most strict optimal precautions, is completely immune from it.

saying only a **** would get it is no different than the fundamentalists saying HIV is to wipe out sinful homosexuality.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: MissB on 30/08/2005 15:39:21
actually.. what I'm saying is quit sleeping around. THAT is how you prevent HIV, and STD's. Don't have premerital sex. When you find the right partner for marriage, both get tested before having sex. That is NOT ignorant, that is the responsible thing to do. Gay or not, DON'T BE A ****! You won't have to worry about any disease if you don't have sex! Is that realistic? probably not, but don't blame the other person for giving you a disease. YOU chose to have sex with them.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 30/08/2005 19:32:54
And then cross your fingers and hope your partner remains faithful
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: gecko on 31/08/2005 04:27:49
no ones blaming anyone here. the disease is the enemy, not the people who carry it. a human being should have  the right to have premarital(and by the way, not everyone values the institution of marriage) sex as well as consensual sex with a stranger without fear of catching a horrible disease. lets fight the disease, not someones personal morals and ethics.


not to mention not all people are sexually compatible, so if you wait to get married and you arent compatable with your partner its divorce time. also, yes you do have to worry about a disease if you dont have sex. if you get piercings, share unsterilized needles, are a surgeon who works on HIV postive patients, get tatoos(sort of ironic).

also, i hate you. i hope you have an unhappy life :)
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: drkev on 31/08/2005 15:01:47
OK two points here: 1. I always practice safe sex and always have a sexual health check after EVERY partner. I found out I had chlamydia which I contracted through sexual contact and I caught it because the girl performed a sexual act on herself and then touched me.

Because I had the check I managed to get it cured within a week with simple antibiotics and I didn't have sex for a month. Meaning that I didn't pass it on to someone else.

If everyone was that cautious and HAS REGULAR SEXUAL HEALTH CHECKS then there STDs wouldn't spread at all.

Back in 1938, Adolf Hitler sanctioned the forced sterilisation of deaf people. I watched the footage and interviews with the victims and I cried when I heard their accounts of being forced to be sterilised.

Don't tell me it's not the same because it is! I do not call someone a Hitler just because I do not agree with their views and anyone who will know me will testify that I support various views that are not considered PC.

Proper education and appropriate sexual practices are the answer. Regular sexual health checks AFTER EVERY PARTNER regardless of whether safe sex has been practised or not.

Live long and Love life

Kevin Fisher
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: MissB on 31/08/2005 20:55:36
Kudos for you drkev but no one can count on someone else to have the medical clearance or the social responability to not have sex when they are infected. Period. I'm not sure about guys, but I'm not into having Papsmears after each partner. So, NO SEX is the solution. Put it back INTO YOUR PANTS and don't use it until you KNOW that your partner is not infected, which means going to the appointment with him/her and seeing the results. Don't want to bother.. then DON"T have sex. It's not a life or death matter NOT having sex but it is HAVING sex.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: neilep on 31/08/2005 21:40:04
quote:
Originally posted by ukmicky

And then cross your fingers and hope your partner remains faithful



I remain faithful to every one of my mistresses [;)]...(I know....poor joke)

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finstagiber.net%2Fsmiliesdotcom%2Fcontrib%2Ficw%2F003.gif&hash=f326f525e3f6c60d4ea3ecbb24d1df2a)
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: MissB on 01/09/2005 23:40:16
Gecko.. not sure why you would hate me. But if you want to put that much effort into a message board.. by all means.. go for it. Personally I believe that those wishes or thoughts you put out on others comes back 100 fold. Remember that when sending "best wishes"

I hope you have a wonderful life!!!
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: ukmicky on 02/09/2005 01:19:29
Hi miss B
Even though your American [:)]i Just thought i would let you know.

I Have nothing but love for you . [:X]

(just dont tell my wife)[:)]
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: drkev on 02/09/2005 02:07:53
papsmears after every partner, why not? I do. It is very unpleasant having a plastic stick shoved down my willy and it hurts like hell trying to pee for a few hours after. I remember the chinese doctor who saw me recognised me from around the University and said "what do you expect when you sleep with women from **********?" it did make me laugh and i was less embarrassed. He also asked me if passing water stung to which my reply was "it didn't until you shoved that bloody stick down my cock!"

So yes it is unpleasant but it means that if I ever caught anything it can be treated immediately and ensures the safety of any future partners.

I spent a day shadowing in the GU clinic once and a guy came in whose willy looked like a cauliflower. (If anyone has seen genital warts you will know what I mean.) When I asked him how long it had been like that he said "two years"!!!!

It is unpleasant but seriously guys get yourself checked and your mrs too preferably before you sleep with her but not easy on a friday night!

Live long and Love life

Kevin Fisher
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: chris on 02/09/2005 09:05:10
As Prof. Margaret Stanley put it when I interviewed her on the radio, most people have got a zoo going on down there, and when you sleep with them you mix your zoo with their zoo.

The reality is that up to 50% of people have high-risk forms of the genital wart virus, HPV, living on their privates. These HPV forms are associated with the vast majority (over 80%) of cervical cancers. So if a woman has sex with multiple partners then she stands a high risk of acquiring these agents and greatly increasing her risk of cervical cancer.

But it's not just intercourse that facilitates the spread of these agents. As someone has already highlighted above, fingers are a very effective vector too and there are now studies following up girls who are confirmed virgins yet carry high risk HPV forms. How did it get there ? Because a guy touches himself, transfers viral particles to his hands, and then touches her.

And it can work both ways, because men can acquire HPV in the same way. For them it's associated with penile cancer although the effect is weaker than the link to cervical cancer in women.

There's no cure, you have to wait for the immune system to kick in and kick out the virus that triggers the lesions. An unfortunate legacy of past infection is the subsequent risk of cancer.

The only thing that seems to influence HPV carriage and transmission (apart from not having sex at all) is male circumcision. The foreskin strongly promotes infection, sequestration and growth of the virus. This is because it provides a larger surface area for infection, and micro-trauma during sex opens up tiny fissures in the skin allowing the virus to gain entry. Also, subsequent lesions (warts caused by genital wart-type HPVs) can remain hidden by the foreskin, so an individual, and their partners, might not realise that they are infected and infectious.

Indeed, recent studies have confirmed that women with uncircumcised partners have a cervical cancer risk about 100-200% higher than those with circumcised partners (when taking into account other factors such as total partner numbers, pill use, smoking history and age effects). In support of these findings, in the US, where most men (80%) are circumcised when they are born, there is a bias in cervical cancer rates towards population subsets with lower male circumcision rates, such as the Hispanic groups.

Interestingly, the same protective effect of circumcision is being seen with another sexually transmitted infection, HIV, largely for the same reasons as HPV. A recent trial was carried out in Africa (published in PLoS Medicine last month) in which individuals who approached doctors requesting cicumcision were randomly assigned to wait 2 years for the procedure (subject to their agreement), or be circumcised immediately. At the time of enrollment in the study they were tested for HIV, and the followed up subsequently to see how many from each group subsequently caught HIV.

The trial had to be stopped early because there were so many people catching HIV in the uncircumcised group that it was deemed unethical to make them wait any longer for the procedure. (About 3 times as many people from the uncircumcised group became HIV positive in the short follow up period compared with those given the procedure immediately). This result agrees with previous studies in several countries which have found an approximately 800% increased in risk of HIV acquisition amongst the uncircumcised.

So, forget tattoos, that won't work. These infections are tiny, invisible and easy to transmit. What's needed is common sense and some education. If people sleep with lots of other people they will pick these things up, but the chances can be reduced by being sensible and adopting a number of protective strategies, one of them being to always use barrier forms of contraception.

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: memasa on 06/09/2005 16:45:51
quote:
So, forget tattoos, that won't work.


I agree! But if you're ever gonna willingly get one (or two) use a registered artist, so you know that he/she knows what hygiene means and that he/she takes care of it as well.
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: David Sparkman on 06/09/2005 17:24:05
Some say we have sex to have our genes survive. We have also seen a few lawsuits involving "you lied to me and gave me aids". The problem is that most carriers don't have much worldly possessions to sue for.

We used to put carriers of nasty dieases under quarentine, but obviously that doesn't work with AIDS - too many people and too long to detect.

I mentioned before that I think this is going to be a very costly problem in the future, not only for the drugs to treat it, but also for the lost productivity in populations where infection rates are double digit. It will devistate populations like the old wars used to.

America is using education as the main defense, and I think that the death and suffering of those who have it does have a strong effect on their friends. This is still very much a homosexual diease as the success of the organism passing though the intestine wall is much higher than passing though the vaginal wall, and the homosexual community does have a much higher incedence of casual sex (sex with someone you just met and probably won't see again) than the hetrosexual community. Of course then it gets into politics, and the homosexual group screams loudest. Perhaps the lesbian community is the safest group.

The question is how to we learn to cure new dieases. Every year some new diease probabily a flu pops up and kills people. The germs are mutating. Should some super germ come along though random chance (like AIDS did) will the race survive. We really need to understand how to custom design molecules to attack these beasties. (Also not to mention what some mad scientist could come up with by cross linking genes from various dieases).

Personally I used chastity and delayed gratification (wait till after you are tested and married) to keep safe, but that doesn't seem too popluar these days.

David
Title: Re: The best way to prevent transmission of std's
Post by: MissB on 10/09/2005 08:47:57
Just an FYI. I heard from a friend not too long ago, she had Herpes. She dug through the memory files to try to figure out who gave it to her, she hadn't had many partners since her 15 year marriage broke up. She suspected a young man she met while getting her teaching certificate, a few years before. She also struggled with how to tell her current partner, a prominent physician in this very small town. Well, if you handn't guessed. The physician is the one who gave her Herpes. Just goes to show you can't trust anyone. He knew he had it and knew he could give it to her. His response was, "oh well, about 1 out of 4 people have it". What makes it worse is that he refrained from sex with an out-of-town girlfriend for years, for fear of giving it to her.

Makes me ill, especialy since my friend still is with him. UGH.