HIV and oda STIs: how dem dey raise risk and why you suppose test for both

How oda STIs dey affect HIV risk

Wen CDC review di research, dem see say STIs dey raise HIV risk for both sides. STI for di partner wey no get HIV dey make am easy for HIV to enter im body, and STI for di partner wey get HIV dey make am easy for am to pass HIV give oda person. For STIs wey dey cause sore or ulcer, like syphilis and herpes, CDC estimate say each of dis effect dey more than double di risk. CDC still tok say nobody sabi exactly how big e be for each STI and each group of pipo, becos di studies na observational studies.

Di calculator dey follow dat one: wen you or your partner get anoda STI, e dey multiply di risk for each act by 2.

See how e be for one time of vaginal sex without condom, woman wit man wey get HIV and no dey take treatment:

• No STI: 0.08% (around 1 out of 1,200)
• Wit STI: 0.16% (around 1 out of 620)

And for receptive anal sex (anal sex wey you be di person wey dem enter) wit man wey get HIV and no dey take treatment:

• No STI: 1.4% (around 1 out of 72)
• Wit STI: 2.8% (around 1 out of 36)

STI sef na warning sign on im own. CDC treatment guidelines tok say if dem diagnose person wit STI, na sign say di person get HIV risk, especially primary or secondary syphilis.

You fit no know say you get am

Plenti STIs no dey show any symptoms, or di signs dey small, so person fit get infection and no know. Na why di calculator dey ask about STIs, and why “I dey feel fine” no be reason to skip test. If you no sure weda you or your partner get STI, di safest tin na to take am say di risk fit high pass, and go do test.

Test for both, at di same time

CDC recommend say everybody wey dem dey check for STIs, wey dem neva know say e get HIV, suppose do HIV test. So anytime you go do test, ask for both.

Some tins wey you suppose remember:

• Di timing no be di same. Each STI get im own time for test. Clinic fit tell you wen to test for each one. See HIV window period (di time afta infection wen test neva fit show HIV).
• If na only HIV you test, you go miss di rest. Negative HIV test no fit tell you anytin about syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia, and di oda way round too.
• STIs get treatment. CDC tok say medicine fit treat all STIs, and some fit cure finish.
• Partners matter. If dem diagnose you wit STI, tell your partners make dem sef go do test.

For pipo wey dey US, gettested.cdc.gov get list of places wey you fit test for HIV and oda STIs for free or for small moni.

PrEP, condoms and doxy-PEP: each one get im own work

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis: HIV medicine wey you dey take before any exposure to protect yourself) dey protect against HIV. If you take am di way dem prescribe, e dey reduce di risk from sex by about 99% for anal sex and about 90% for vaginal sex. But, as CDC tok, e no dey prevent oda STIs.

Condoms dey reduce HIV risk by about 80% for real life use, and dem fit also help prevent some oda STIs.

Doxy-PEP na new option for STIs wey bacteria dey cause. E mean say you go take one dose of di antibiotic wey dem dey call doxycycline within 72 hours afta sex. CDC tok say e dey reduce di risk of syphilis and chlamydia, and of gonorrhea for some studies. CDC recommend say health workers suppose discuss am wit gay, bisexual and oda men wey dey sleep wit men, and wit transgender women, wey don get at least one bacterial STI for di past 12 months. CDC neva make any recommendation yet for cisgender women.

Doxy-PEP no be HIV prevention. Togeda wit am, CDC recommend HIV test and to tok about HIV PrEP wit pipo wey e fit help. If you dey use doxy-PEP, you still need separate plan for HIV. Read more for PrEP and PEP.

Wetin to do now

1. If di exposure happen for di last 72 hours, ask about HIV PEP.
2. Do test for HIV and oda STIs togeda, even if you dey feel fine.
3. If you get STI, make dem treat am and tell your partners.
4. Put di STI inside wen you dey use di calculator, so di estimate go correct well.
5. Tink about protection wey go continue: PrEP for HIV, condoms for HIV and oda STIs, and doxy-PEP if health worker tok say e good for you.