What We Can Give You - AND You Can Give Us!

Pokpokan Blues
By Makisig Santos

“Bro.”  His voice was low, like he didn’t know how to talk to me about something, so I pretended not to have heard him, eyes still shut close.  This was just a few weeks back, when I crashed in a friend’s place – he, also, is a sex worker, catering to “the cream of the crop, the best of the bests” of Metro Manila’s “ruling elite,” as he identifies himself as.  “Hey, bro.”

“Huh?” I said, in a sleepy voice made to sound even sleepier.  It was, what, 4.30 A.M., and, as I had serviced two clients the night before until just an hour that early morning, I needed to sleep.

“Bro.”  He was insistent.

“Can we not talk about this later?”

“I think I have crabs.”

And just like that, I was wide awake – actually, beyond awake, hyperactive, in a way, as I hopped off his bed, the one I was sharing with him, standing away from him.

“I have crabs,” he repeated.  “For over a week now, I think.”

I didn’t have to ask him how he got it – crabs (a.k.a. pubic lice) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the world, with annual reported cases of over three million in the US alone (Philippine figures are hard to come by, what with Filipinos “looking after” the problems themselves, instead of going to medical practitioners, thereby affecting the effective monitoring of infections), and as a sex worker, well...

But since, aside from usually contracting crabs through unprotected sexual encounters (usually with multiple partners), they are also, on occasion, contracted through contact with infected bedding, clothing, et cetera – something I was putting myself in danger of contracting by sleeping in the same bed as him.
Call me paranoid, but, hey, “Thanks but no thanks for telling me just now,” I said to him.

Fast forward a few hours later, unable to go back to sleep, we were seated in the sala, tracing his sexual history to identify who could have given him his “babies,” as well as identify who he could have given them to.  “Damn, I’d never expect it from him,” he said of one of his clients, the one I was sure he got the infection.  “He’s too...”

“Seemingly infallible?”

“Well, yeah.”

He was exasperating me, still in need to recharge, so I said matter-of-factly: “You have crabs.  You got it from someone – if not somewhere.  It could very well have been him.  As much as it could have come from the others you had sex with in that period we believe you got infected.”

“Hmmn...” he mumbles, thinking hard.  “Teaches us who NOT to sleep with,” he then says, smiling widely.

“No,” I said.  “Teaches us to be careful.  We never know what we can get – and be giving.”

And this is true, too, with STIs (among others) so numerous, everyone should always be on the lookout everyone takes their pants off.  Everyone is at risk, depending on various factors (e.g. how protected the sexual activities are, number of sexual partners, locations of sexual activities, et cetera), so no one is COMPLETELY safe, and caution should always be observed.

FOR CONSIDERATION

STIs that are caused by virus:
HIV and AIDS
Foremost worth noting is, understandably, AIDS, “characterized by a set of symptoms provoked by a virus which we call the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that attacks the immune system (the body’s natural defense system),” states STELLA (chezstella.org), an international group advocating the rights of sex workers.  “HIV can be transmitted through blood, sperm, pre-ejaculatory fluid, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.  These biological fluids need to be infected by HIV, then enter into contact with an opening on the skin where it can reach a non-infected person’s blood to make transmission possible.  The activities that put a person at risk for HIV are: vaginal or anal penetration without a condom; sharing dildos or sex toys without using condoms; sharing needles or injection materials (syringes, spoons, filters, et cetera); and tattooing or body piercing equipment that is not sterilized.”  Worth noting is that “HIV can be present in the body for years before it shows symptoms (if at all).”
After HIV has reached the AIDS phase, “the immune system becomes very weak and cannot defend itself from simple infections. These infections (called opportunistic infections) take advantage of the weakness of the immune system and settles in the body.”  And while there are “very strong medications that slow down the replication of the virus and delay the arrival of the AIDS phase (to help make) a seropositive person live longer, in reality, we are far away from any a ‘miracle pill.’”  Protection from getting infected, or infecting others, is, therefore, a must.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
A viral infection, HPV has different types, though the most frequent are warts, highly contagious after transmission through direct contact (take note: even without sexual penetration).  Causing irritating sensations of itching, aside from pain, a quick visit to a doctor should immediately remedy the situation.
Herpes
Broadly, there are two types of herpes – the cold sores (affecting the mouth and the lips), and the genital (affecting the genitals, including anal, area); though either manifests in lesions, small ulcers, and/or sensitive wounds.  While these can be sexually transmitted (cold sore on the mouth can transmit the herpes virus to the penis during oral sex, and vice versa).  The virus stays in the body for life, so medication can only reduce the intensity and longevity of the existence of symptoms.  See a doctor when symptoms are noticed.
Hepatitis
When somebody’s eyes turn yellow, we immediately say, “He/She’s got heap (hepatitis).  This, in actuality, may be true, since hepatitis, considered a disease of the liver, has symptoms including, yes, yellow coloured eyes and skin, aside from diarrhoea, dark urine, appetite loss, and headaches.  The differences: hep A can be found in faeces, and can be sexually transmitted through rimming, oro-genital and anal-penile contacts, or use of sex toys anally used; hep B is transmitted the same way as HIV and AIDS – sperm and vaginal secretions, unprotected vaginal/anal penetration, and sharing of infected sex toys (dildoes, et cetera), though it may also be transmitted through the blood and saliva, e.g. sharing of toothbrushes, syringes, razors, et cetera; and hep C is transmitted through the blood.
Here’s the thing with hepatitis: many infected people do not have particular symptoms, so getting infected is possible without knowing it (almost like HIV and AIDS).  Taking a test for each hepatitis type is recommended, especially since you can do something about this: there are vaccinations for hep A and hep B.

STIs that are caused by bacteria (a.k.a. bacterial infections):
Syphilis
Yes, it is easily treated by antibiotics – but, this is important, DO NOT just take antibiotics when you start noticing those painless ulcers on the glans penis, or your pubic area, or thereabout.  Instead, when symptoms are noticed down there, head to a doctor, as syphilis, when untreated (or not correctly treated) can cause infertility, dementia, and even cardiac problems (King Philip of Spain, where our country’s name was derived from, died of complications from syphilis).
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea, frequently transmitted through oral sex, shows various symptoms, including –“green or yellowish discharge from the penis, usually accompanied by pain; burning sensation while urinating; and pain around the testicles or swelling of the testicles,” according to STELLA.  But when the infections happen in the anus and/or the throat, the symptoms are, of course, unseen, but largely still felt, including “a pins and needles sensation, discharge, pus, pain, or spots of blood.”  A quick visit to a doctor is the best remedy.
Chlamydia
Almost similar to gonorrhoea, Chlamydia can also be transmitted through oral sex, or during anal/vaginal penetration.  The problem with this is, in up to 70% of cases, no symptoms were noted, so that taking a test is the best way to know infection.  Ditto with the above, this is also easily treated.
And there are many others, of course, all focusing on the need to be careful, else be infected (or infect others) with them.

PLAY SAFE

My friend’s crabs were yellowish – except when they fed, they turned angry red.  Small, almost as small as sesame seeds, they looked, to me, scary, some sign of the threats out there, of what can be had when not being careful.  But they were easily remedied by over the counter shampoos that contained Pyrethrin (1%) or Pymethrin (1%), as well as prescription shampoos with the active ingredient of Lindane (1%).

Yes, I used some of the shampoo, too – even after a check-up showed that I didn’t get infected (you never know with these things, so better be sure, was what I was thinking).

“Do be careful, will you!” I scolded him.  He’s got a big dick, but he can be a dick most times, using his head down there, when he should be using what’s up there.

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, nonchalantly, finding what happened to him somewhat “funny now,” he said with an impish smile.

“I mean it,” I said.  And I really mean it.

Because of all the infections we can give – and can, apparently, get – care is the only thing we have to really protect ourselves.

Makisig Santos, 24, is an on/off sex worker, who believes that since the profession is inherently dangerous, SWs need to be provided with as much know-how as possible for them to be able to protect themselves in whatever situation they find themselves in – and this is the very intention he intends to achieve here, with Pokpokan Blues.