PrEP - a new bareback culture?

[LeatherGayBB]

Hello everyone, 

in the last days, after reading a lot of threats and posts on this site, I started to wonder if PrEP created a new (more uniformed) kind of barebacker.

Let me explain: I started having bareback sex a few years before PrEP was available. I made the conscious decision to only have bareback sex with all the risks involved. I knew what I could expect and was prepared. As I read through this forum a lot of you state the same, that they decided it with a complete understanding what bareback sex means.

Nowadays,  I have the feeling a lot of guys think PrEP is the magic potion to fuck raw without any consequences. I had discussions with friends, that say someone who is on PrEP couldn't give them any STD/STI as they get tested regularly. They always get shocked, when I tell them I got my first STD while on PrEP because I started to enjoy more riskier stuff. They usually call me, when it is their turn for their first STD/STI, as I would know what to do (while it's always the same answer: go see a doctor). I feel there is a real lack of knowledge and a lot of uninformed decision making.

So, I was wondering if you have the same experiences and if so, do you think this is a kind of barebacking culture different to the time before PrEP? 

 

[EuroMusk76]

Barebacking culture has definitely changed with the arrival of PrEP: doing it raw has certainly become mainstream. Before it was niche for the adventurous, the careless, the inebriated & the ones in 'committed relationships'.

People thinking that PrEP will ward off all diseases is just dumb. Most guys should know there's a residual risk of contracting HIV & all other STIs are not affected by HIV-PrEP. In my experience a lot of people are aware of that. With the advent & promotion of Doxy-PEP a good number of guys know how to prevent infection with other STIs. While people might be dumb, they aren't necessarily ill-informed.

[Rillion]

It has definitely changed the sexual norm. Barebacking is pretty much the default these days for most sexual encounters from my experience. With PrEP and Doxy PEP more guys are having raw sex and not using condoms. In the past three years I have picked up one case of Chlamydia (before I started using Doxy) and one case of Gonorrhea (at Dore Alley this year) even with using Doxy. 

[PozPigCumDump]

Indeed, the fuck culture amongst gay men has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. And it's a good thing... I think! 

And true, that there is still a lot of education to be had even amongst gay men. PrEP will only almost eliminate the risk of HIV transmission, but not other STD's. However, even before HIV era, men were having bareback sex and syphilis, gono, chlam, and all the others were still present. The thing is that with a little bit of effort all these other illnesses can be treated. A penicillin shot here and there, one or two pills for others, and we're good as new. Of course, for many having to disclose these illnesses means that we somehow have to admit to promiscuity. But let me ask a question? Who the fuck cares what the doctor or the nurse says? When a doctor tries to gives me a sermon about promiscuous lifestyle I tell them in no uncertain terms that my illness keeps them in business and to thank me for billing the system. Without me, their new car, the new carpet or new phone would be so much more difficult to buy. So that's that. 

I am not diminishing the discomfort or the complications these illnesses come with. But, let's not live our lives in fear. However, I don't live in US where the medical setup favours the rich, so I admit that insurance costs complicate things.

At any rate, PrEP did change the gay sex culture and I am happy that we're coming to a point where new infections are coming down, and people are having more uninhibited fun.  

[Cutedelicategay]

This topic feels like 'slut shaming'. Men always had uninhibited sex. Sex is meant to be the natural way. During the AIDS era we got brainwashed by authorities regarding condoms. Condoms were introduced as a barrier for avoiding pregnancy and there are numerous documented cases where condoms have failed to avoid pregnancy. Expand this logic to STD prevention. 

We as a community should be really happy that Prep is a medical miracle for people to stay healthy and still enjoy sex the way it is intended to be. Chlamydia is a very very common bacterial infection just like streptococcus. Syphilis is a harrassor because the tests remain reactive all life. But DoxyPep has shown great success. Gonorrhea remains a concern even with DoxyPep. 

Research continues in ensuring that there is prevention for most of these common STIs. Doxycycline is currently tested for Prep to supplement the Pep. Meningitis vaccine has shown some success against Gonorrhea. We as a community should support and celebrate such medical marvels that keeps us healthy and let us enjoy sex. 

Majority of people are either undetectable or on Prep and DoxyPep. Despite real numbers of new infections declining albeit slowly there are certain kind of people who still insist on condoms. IMO these are the people who have either knowingly ignored the marvels of these prevention medications or cheating behind their partners (can't comment on morality and not sure if it even exists today) or just full of subconscious homophobia. 

Besides a lot of cultures and subcultures shame gay sex turning a blind eye to the existence of history of gay sex in their culture. Men from such cultures have to marry to prove their manliness. These men are more prone to cheating and denying Prep and DoxyPep from the fear of being caught. Also a lot of countries do not have easy access to Prep DoxyPep or even ART. Personally I tend to avoid such hookups. Not being judgemental but just who I am.

Gay sex has existed for time immemorial and it has always been raw dominant and animalistic. Gay sex is where a man really shows his masculinity and virility. 

Raw is law......always

Edited 2 hours ago by Cutedelicategay

[Pozzible]

@Cutedelicategay I agree with your comment except for this sentence:

24 minutes ago, Cutedelicategay said:

During the AIDS era we got brainwashed by authorities regarding condoms.

Maybe that’s literally true but (to me) the connotation is that the authorities were giving us false info. I think it was exactly the correct message for government to send. 

[hntnhole]

1 hour ago, Cutedelicategay said:

During the AIDS era we got brainwashed by authorities regarding condoms

I disagree.  As the hiv crises unfolded, condoms were the only way to maintain any kind of sexual license.  Guys we knew, guys we didn't know, guys everywhere were dying daily.  At first, no one knew why, other than the fact that "some disease was killing us" out there.  Our fuckjoints became ghastly reminders of our previously celebrated lives.  Bars closed.  Bathhouses became forlorn monuments to what was.  We retreated to our homes, and tried to keep in touch with our friends on the phone.  Guys were dying in the streets, in the clinics (assuming they could find one that wasn't already filled to the rafters), there were constant announcements of "celebrations of life" as more and more of us died horrible, terrible, agonizing deaths.  Condoms (and ceasing all sexual activity, save for our life-partners, were the only possible protection at the time, and condoms were not 100% reliable.  

You sound like you're young enough not to have gone through those hellish days.  If that's the case, be thankful.  No one "brainwashed" us, we just wanted to live to see another day.

[Pozzible]

I felt reassured by the condom message. It was easy to follow. Especially for us bottoms. I do remember one scare for me after we were relying on condoms. The idea that poppers might be causal factor was definitely scary. And atopping poppers was a no-go for me.