Rant on Sexual Education

[rose_silver 100]

 

Herpes and Aids are both incurable and condom use does help ... but they are not the only STD/STI's that are incurable and you are forgetting two that are much worse!!

 

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say there probablyisn't anything worse than AIDS. I watched a family member die from AIDS related complications... not so good.

 

:edit: ... it just occurred to me that you probably meant hep and hpv were worse than herpes. in which case... it's still sort of like sticking your hand in a grab bag of cobras and rat traps.

[Guest s******ecan****]

Those who have been on Cerb longer than 6 months are all too familiar with this topic as it unsurprisingly comes up frequently.

 

SP's and clients are irrevocably exposed to the risks of STD/STI once they become active in this industry. Most of us take precautions to limit our risk to what we consider to be acceptable levels to maintain personal sanity but any idea that we will be risk free is illusion.

 

Fortunately as Mod pointed out the risk of HIV and Hep can be reduced by the use of condoms, and transmission via Daty of both of these through Daty is known to be possible.

 

Genital Herpes is as Mod pointed out quite another matter. While it is a minor illness (not life threatening) it is incurable and also so devious as to be almost sentient. Many who have it may not even be aware of it.

 

Abstinence is the only way to be 100% sure you won't develop and STD/STI (of course there are non-sexual ways to develop some of theses illnesses). Therefore once you leave abstinence behind you step into the world of the unknown. Even condoms do not provide 100% protection and like all other man made items they are liable to failure (hey just look at Toyota).

 

You can't really even weigh the risks, since they are not statisically predictable, a decision to proceed in the face of this risk requires one to either "buckle up and drive" so to speak or wallow in endless worry and paranoia.

 

There are real risks associated with our hobby/business/industry just like there is in driving a car, riding a motorcycle, scuba diving,flying on a plane, driving a truck on the "ice road", working in a coal mine, being a cop, being a cameraman on "Deadliest Catch" (geez apologies to any hobbiests who do all of those things I didn't mean to upset you lol) etc.

 

If you can't accept the possibility of contracting one of these illnesses you should get out of the hobby because it is possible it could happen, some more likely than others. If you are willing to run the risk, do every thing you can to reduce it by developing a personal standard of protection, stand by it firmly and proceed knowing you have done all you can to manage the risk.

 

Stay current on the risks in case you need to adapt CDC is probably the best source.

 

As far as internet porn it too carries risks, how would your SO react if discovered, what if you are downloading underage stuff, it can become addictive . Hey it can even make you go blind (OK now I'm kidding). As well spending a lot of time online can lead to a host of physical ailments.

 

Living is risky, that doesen't equate to throw caution to the wind, but I've always believed its not healthy to live your life looking over your shoulder.

 

nuff said

[Kate von Katz 49953]

I tend to err on the side of caution, personally. Too many STDs can be carried and transmitted but still not show up on tests for weeks, months, and in a very few extreme cases, even years. I love having fun, but at the end of the day the only thing I want to take home with me is a silly grin on my face.

 

Condoms have come a long way since the medieval days of tying sheep's entrails. There's plenty of options out there that don't feel as plasticy, as well as non-latex options.

 

It's a matter of personal choice in the end, and while I don't chide clients or fellow SPs for their personal choices, I myself choose differently. Being safe, I can guarantee my cleanliness not only to my clients, but more importantly, to myself.

[VedaSloan 119179]

I really just want to point out that it is the AMOUNT OF SEX you have and not your profession that determines your risk and exposure to STD's.

 

And being a sex worker does not necessarily mean that you are having OUTRAGEOUS amounts of sex to the point where you would be considered to be at a higher risk, than say, the average sexually active adult.

 

Add to that also the extent to which your clients are regular, repeat clients, who if you have had no problems in the past, it is unlikely you might have problems in the future (I am not saying you couldn't).