Trick or Treat?

If You Pick Up A Trick, Don’t Go
Home With Any Lethal Treats

BY BRYAN LANGLANDS

Now that we're in the second
decade of the AIDS crisis, we are
entering a period of normalization
to this health hazard. It is typical
of any new disease that the begin-
ning societal reaction is that of
disbelief and denial, followed by
education and action, which later
turns into a period of resignation.
Unfortunately, this period of nor-
malization has led to unsafe sexual
practices. The evidence comes
from the rising rate of infection of
HIV among individuals who are
sexually active.

Just bucause a
person looks great,
sexy, and healthy
doesn’t mean
they’re not
festering inside
with any number of

illnesses.

Not only is HIV on the increase
but other sexually transmittable
diseases are also on the rise:
chlymydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis,

syphilis and herpes. These are all
very dangerous diseases, and if not
treated could lead to serious health
problems, and sometimes death. A
number of them are undetectable
without proper tests, and any indi-
vidual can be a carrier without
knowledge. Just because a person
looks great, sexy, and healthy does
in no way mean they are not fes-
tering inside with any number of
these illnesses. All of these are
preventable. Don’t have sex
without a condom - EVER.

Always perform the safest of
safe sex. If you or your chosen sex
partner complains that safe sex is
boring, then
quite frankly
you, yourselves,
are quite boring.
And let me tell
you that dying
from AIDS or
hepatitis is cer-
tainly not
boring. In fact, it
will consume
you mentally
and physically
for the rest of
your numbered
days. Quite
exciting.

If tyour
partner com-
plains that he
can not get it up
with a condom;
or that it’s so
much less sensi-
tive for him, or
that they are too
small or too
tight, and therefore he refuses to
wear a condom, then just laugh in
his stupid naive face and show
him the door. If the woman that

Louise Thornton

you are with tells you that you do
not need a condom because she’s
on birth control, or that she can
not enjoy oral sex when there is a
prophylactic dam between her and
your tongue, then tell her that
there will be no delection without
protection.

Condoms come in various sizes.
You can buy large, and even extra
large. However, when you buy
them make sure you buy condoms
that are not lubricat-
ed. If you use a
lubricant, the only
ones to use are water
based, and which
contain nonoxynol-
9. Nonoxynol-9
helps kill the HIV
virus if the condom
breaks.

If you think you
have any transmit-
table diseases, stop
having sex and go
and get a check up.

I don’t want to hear
how embarrassing it
is going to Sexually
Transmitted Disease Clinic - be
responsible for yourself and your
actions. Even if you don’t think
you have anything, it is still good
to have regular thorough check
ups. All the diseases are immedi-
ately detectable with a test , with
the exception of HIV, which has a
window period of 16 weeks before
an individual will test positive to
HIV antibodies after being exposed
to the virus.

The clinic I go to is the STD
clinic at the Vancouver General
Hospital. The people are very nice,
professional, and easy to talk to.
You can even go to simply talk to
them about your activities, or to
ask questions about risky prac-
tices. All tests are free and confi-
dential. The HIV result is back in
two weeks, the other test results
are returned earlier. Hepatitis-b is
preventable with a vaccine (three
booster shots - the Ist, the 2nd a
month later, and the final one 5

KNOW .
YOUR
SCUMBAGS

THIS ONE PREVENTS AIDS.

months later). This vaccine costs
money, about $100. However, at
the VGH STD clinic, if you submit
yourself to the gonorrhea, syphilis,
chlymydia and hepatitis—B tests,
and the result shows that you are
hepatitis-b free, then the clinic will
give you the vaccine for free
(which is good for the rest of your
life). They will not give it to you if
you have already been exposed to
the hepatitis—B virus, because the

If you think you
have any transmit-
table diseases, stop
having sex and go

and get a check up.

vaccine only prevents you from
contracting it if you do not have
it - it does nothing for you if you
already have it. No, it’s not the
most pleasant set of tests I’ve ever
endured, but it could save your
life and those of others. So go do
it.

The address and number for the
STD Clinic is Vancouver S.T.D.
Clinic, 828 West 10th Avenue,
tel. 660-6161. If you have any
questions or concerns regarding
any of your sexual activities, or
about being tested, make an
appointment.

It is no easy thing to have an
HIV test. Even after being brave
enough to get tested, you have to
be braver still to follow through
and pick up the results. The people
at the STD Clinic are compassion-
ate professionals and will discuss
your options and any fears you
may have. “@&

TART SURROUNDS ME

NovemBer 1995 / Emny 7

MR PUB, :
PUBLIC FIEURE renee,
Novenwen 1995 | Bony 7

Trick or Treat?

If You Pick Up A Trick, Don’t Go

Home With Any Lethal Treats KNOW i
ana Lavanos syphilis and herpes. These are all

very dangerous diseases, and if not

‘Now that we're in the second treated could lead to serious health
decade of the AIDS crisis, we are problems, and sometimes death. A

centering a period of normalization number of them are undetectable A

to this health hazard. Itis typical without proper tests, and any indi is ue

of any new disease thatthe begin- vidual can be a carrier without iz =

ning societal reaction is that of knowledge. Just because a person aS

disbelief and denial, followed by looks great, sexy, and healthy does S/
‘education and action, which later in no way mean they are not fes- ceca
tums into a period of resignation. tering inside with any number of |

Unfortunately, this period of nor- thes illnesses. All of these are

rmalization has led to unsafe serual preventable. Don't have sex

practices. The evidence comes _without a condom ~ EVER.

from the rising rate of infection of Always perform the safest of

HIV among individuals who are safe sex. If you of your chosen sex

sexually active partner complains that safe sex is
boring, then

Just because a sosouneis

are quite boring, you are with tells you that you do months Tater). This vaccine costs

‘And let me tell” not needa condom because she's money, about $100. However, at
Person looks great, yournasying —onbini control, or that she can the VGH STD cine, ifyou submit
from AIDS or not enjoy orl sex when there is 2 yourself to the gonorrhea, syphilis,

hepatitis is cer- prophylactic dam between hee and chlymyéa and hepaiis-B tests,

xy, and healthy. sam pour Coogee eal her at Sarat stra Gaya
CLDST ETT ELLIS er ete a oe et aint

- will consume protection. give you the vaccine or free

you mentally ‘Condoms come in various sizes. (whichis good forthe rest of your
doesn tien rire, yecsiyininincea airmen aman nas

for the rest of lange. However, when you buy you have already been exposed to

od

they're not "= them make sure you buy condoms the hepatis-B vin bees the
exciting cd, you use a

festering inside ,.02%. S2r.seu,, If you think you

plains that he based, and which

with any number of 02.2 Suaams" have any transmit-

Srtba tose hap il he HIV
IMESSES. tretortimor beac. table diseases, stop
Not only is HIV on the increase tight, and thereforehe fuses to tbledseaes sop «6 haVINg sex and go
Coe Sac en Phen eee gee eet

chiymydia, onorthea, hepatitis, him the door. Ifthe woman that dont want toher aN get a check up.
how embarrassing it
is going to Sexually

‘Transmitted Disease Clinie- be vaccine only prevents you from
responsible for yourself and your contracting it if you do not have
actions. Even if you don't think it it does nothing for you if you
you have anything iis still good already have it. No, i's not the

to have regular thorough check most pleasant set of tests I've ever
ups. All the diseases are immedi- endured, but it could save your

ly detectable with test, with life and those of others. So go do
the exception of HIV, which has a

window period of 16 weeks before The address and number for the
an individual will test positive to STD Clinic is Vancouver S.TD.
HIV antibodies after being exposed Clinic, 828 West 10th Avenue,

to the vins. tel. 660-6161. If you have any
‘The clinic I go to is the STD questions or concerns regarding
clinic at the Vancouver General any of your sexual activities, or
Hospital. The people are very nice, about being tested, make an
professional, and easy to talk to. appointment
You can even go to simply talk to Its no easy thing to have an
them about your activities, orto HIV test. Even after being brave
clin eidtiaMMcitdiky price ghee ties gael a have
tices All tests ate free and confi- be braver still to follow through
ential. The HIV result is back in and pick up the results. The people
two weeks, the other test results atthe STD Clinic are compassion-

ate professionals and will discuss
preventable with a vaccine (three your options and any fears you
booster shots ~ the Ist, the 2nd a may have. ®

month later, and the final one 5