February 2018 Issue #14 February 2018 Issue #14, 4GUYS | Page 35

What if I go for regular check-ups?
STIs can make HIV-positive men more infectious and HIV-negative men more vulnerable
to infection. You can have an STI without knowing it and without any noticeable symp-
toms. Fortunately most STIs can be treated if they are detected soon enough. An STI
check-up every six months is enough for most gay men but if you do have symptoms,
you should get checked out straight away. Getting tested regularly for HIV will not stop
you from becoming infected; it will only tell you if you have become infected.
What about pulling out before cumming?
Pulling out before cumming will reduce the chance of HIV transmission for the guy who’s
getting fucked, but not for the guy doing the fucking
There is more HIV in cum than there is in pre-cum, both in the quantity of the body fluid
and the concentration of HIV in that liquid. However, it is still possible to get infected from
pre-cum, although it is less likely than if the guy doing the fucking cums inside.
Even when withdrawing before cumming, both partners still run the risk of catching other
STIs.
Does it make a difference if you are the top or the bottom?
Gay men are more likely to catch HIV from being fucked (being bottom) than from fucking
(being top) [6]
Men who do not have HIV have less chance of becoming infected if they are tops and
if you have HIV there is less ch