10 replies to this topic

[bordercolliefan]

A story came out in the SF Chronicle a couple days ago that public health officials have discovered a particularly high incidence of antibiotic-resistant staph infections concentrated among gay men, especially in Boston and SF. They are suggesting that anal sex may be a highly effective way to transmit this bacteria, though it can be spread by other kinds of contact, too.

I am considering what conclusions to draw from this information. I am a big gay rights supporter and definitely believe that a person should be true to their own sexuality (as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else). On the other hand, this poses the question of whether from a public health perspective, anal sex is not the best practice. I wonder if part of "safe sex" should be promoting other kinds of intimate contact.

I'm hoping for a thoughtful and/or scientific discussion of this news story -- not gay-bashing, which society already has too much of.

[Bill Z]

On the other hand, this poses the question of whether from a public health perspective, anal sex is not the best practice.

Duh!

There's a reason we flush the stuff that comes out of that bodily orifice down the toilet. Back in ancient civilization, when it littered the streets, mankind suffered from leprosy.

I was going to say more, but decided it was going down the path of TMI.

[chris v]

A story came out in the SF Chronicle a couple days ago that public health officials have discovered a particularly high incidence of antibiotic-resistant staph infections concentrated among gay men, especially in Boston and SF. They are suggesting that anal sex may be a highly effective way to transmit this bacteria, though it can be spread by other kinds of contact, too.

I am considering what conclusions to draw from this information. I am a big gay rights supporter and definitely believe that a person should be true to their own sexuality (as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else). On the other hand, this poses the question of whether from a public health perspective, anal sex is not the best practice. I wonder if part of "safe sex" should be promoting other kinds of intimate contact.

I'm hoping for a thoughtful and/or scientific discussion of this news story -- not gay-bashing, which society already has too much of.

Let them do it if they want to... you can get worse diseases from straight sexual contact so whats the big deal.

[Nylaan]

Wikipedia can give you the generic answers, which is mostly that anal tissue is sensitive and easy to break as well as there being a higher presence of bacteria in that area.

However, it is my opinion that things spread because people sleep around - and that is just the way those people are and it has little to do with who or what kinds of sex they are involved in.

And apparently heterosexual people engage in anal sex also. Since there are more heterosexual couples that would seem to suggest that perhaps there are more heterosexual people having anal sex than homosexual males....

[MikeinFolsom]

It appears as if God has parted the heavens and continues to strike down the infidels that contradict His word..........

[bordercolliefan]

It appears as if God has parted the heavens and continues to strike down the infidels that contradict His word..........

Yes, that's the kind of God I would want to worship. The kind who would make someone gay, and then punish them with a dread disease when they act on it.

Hopefully soon He'll make good on the threat to strike blind anyone who masturbates, too. That would show a lot of people.

[chuckles]

A story came out in the SF Chronicle a couple days ago that public health officials have discovered a particularly high incidence of antibiotic-resistant staph infections concentrated among gay men, especially in Boston and SF. They are suggesting that anal sex may be a highly effective way to transmit this bacteria, though it can be spread by other kinds of contact, too.

I am considering what conclusions to draw from this information. I am a big gay rights supporter and definitely believe that a person should be true to their own sexuality (as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else). On the other hand, this poses the question of whether from a public health perspective, anal sex is not the best practice. I wonder if part of "safe sex" should be promoting other kinds of intimate contact.

I'm hoping for a thoughtful and/or scientific discussion of this news story -- not gay-bashing, which society already has too much of.

there has also been problems with mrsa spreading through high schools especially where wrestling teams practice. they have had to disinfect entire schools before letting students back in

[bordercolliefan]

there has also been problems with mrsa spreading through high schools especially where wrestling teams practice. they have had to disinfect entire schools before letting students back in

Yes, I've heard about that. I believe this is a new, slightly different strain -- but I'm not absolutely positive.

[linda8055]

I am not sure how being gay can increase the chanve of a staph infection. Staph is caused when bacteria or fungi mange to move in to the body's system. Quite strange.

[ngilbert]

Yes, I've heard about that. I believe this is a new, slightly different strain -- but I'm not absolutely positive.

I'd heard that one of things that gives rise to the super-resistant staph is all the anti-bacterial handsoaps people use everyday now. Basically it kills off, whatever, say 95% of the bacteria on your hand. But that 5% that it doesn't/can't kill and leaves behind? Well now you've wiped out its competition plus any "good" bacteria in the process too. It then breeds, and the next time you wash your hands, you kill off its weaker population leaving behind the more resistant strain of the more resistant strain, and so on and so on. So now you're doing Darwin's job for the bad guys and breeding superstaph.

Scary stuff. That's why infection is such a problem in hospitals, where they've been doing the antibacterial thing for years before it became a household routine, and to top it off they're also working with open wounds and incisions.

Gotta go now - time to boil all my stuff.

[mylo]

MRSA is a nasty little bug. It's most common in the elderly. Does that mean old people have more anal sex?