For myself, the wife and I do use them, and we have been together now for 12 years. I know he won’t cheat on me, nor will I, on him. Yet we still use them, and I think it comes from fear. YES, fear, because there is no way of knowing for sure, how long a virus can remain dormant in our systems. That is why we still practice Safe Sex.

Both of us, have had our moments before we hooked up, so I don’t know, I simply don’t want to get him sick. He feels the same way, so yes we use Condoms, yet if you listen to the various forums, discussions, more and more Men are opting to forgo using Condoms.

The arguments are varied, but for most it seems to be that one, they don’t feel as natural as doing it without protection. Another excuse is that well, it is inconvenient to stop and put one on. Now, there are other reasons, but for the most part those are the two main one’s that I hear, and more than likely are what you might be thinking as well.

Truth of the matter is, IT IS YOUR LIFE. And no, not just talking about HIV either. That is just one of the many diseases that one can contract if you don’t use a condom. YES, they are not 100% guaranteed safe, you can still contract a disease, but the simple fact is, IT REDUCES DRAMATICALLY THE RISK OF INFECTION. Now that may not mean much, because after all, there are pills or shots to take, that can clear it up.

Course that assumes you get regularly tested for those diseases, and that your system hasn’t built up an immunity to the cure, or that the disease isn’t a strain that has built up a resistance to the treatment. The rise of super bugs is real, so it isn’t just a matter of getting a shot anymore.

The rate of P&S syphilis among men has risen 54 percent over the past five years (from 3.7 per 100,000 in 2002 to 5.7 per 100,000 in 2006), driving overall increases in syphilis rates for the nation. Several sources of data suggest that increased transmission of P&S syphilis among MSM may be largely responsible for these increases. Over time, the disparity between male and female case rates has grown considerably. The P&S syphilis rate among males is now nearly six times the rate among females, whereas the rates were almost equivalent a decade ago. (source – Center for Disease Control)

Now I don’t know about you, but that is scary shit. It is like the whole world has gone a bit over the edge, between flooding, warmer than normal temperatures, colder than normal in spots, and just, well everything. From falling house prices, to increase reposessions of cars, and foreclosures. Yet while they might be things we can’t do something about, infections are something we can try to limit, to mitigate.

Using Condoms might not feel natural, but then again, if your dick falls off or gets cut off because it’s diseased, ain’t nothing gonna feel natural again, now is it?

Sure, you might have to stop for a minute to unroll a condom, but if you do it the way my wife does, it can make the other person even more ready, hotter in fact. It can be fun, be very erotic too, or you can simply ignore it, and well so what if your groin is covered in ugly sores? I mean that’ll sure get that hot stud wanting to go down on you, won’t it?

Syphilis, a genital ulcerative disease, is highly infectious, but easily curable in its early (primary and secondary) stages. If untreated, it can lead to serious longterm complications, including brain, cardiovascular, and organ damage, and even death. (source – CDC)

So Is Your Life Worth It?

The syphilis numbers are shocking because just a decade ago, the U.S. was on the verge of eliminating the disease. Now 3.7 out of every 100,000 Americans – and 6.4 out of every 100,000 American males – carry the infection, which can cause blindness, brain damage, and death if untreated.

Rates among men are six times higher than rates among women. This, Fenton said, is largely because of huge increases in syphilis infections among men who have sex with men. About 60 percent of all recent U.S. syphilis infections occurred in these men. (source)

Now I don’t know about you, but that is rather scary stuff. I also fear that if this news is picked up, and is sensationalized as only the Media can do, that we will wind up having another round of Gay Bashing. I mean look at how Abstinence Only came into being, thanks largely in part to the HIV epidemic of the 70′s.

Like we need to give the religious right more ammunition?

[For more, read Gay Persuasion 'Syphilis Among Gays Rising']