About Staying Negative

Staying Negative aims to emotionally engage, inspire and facilitate imagination in sexual health practices. The campaign profiles the real life stories of gay, bisexual and trans men who have sex with men (MSM). Men talk about all aspects of their life from coming out, relationships, sexuality and a broad range of other topics. While HIV and safe sex is an important part of all stories, it is not the exclusive focus.

Prior HIV prevention campaigns have traditionally focused on providing gay men with information that will encourage them to adopt safe sex behaviours. In reality, safe sex practices are influenced by a whole range of environmental and cultural factors. The campaign also provides an opportunity for HIV positive men to talk about their lives and discuss how their strategies to staying HIV negative were not successful. We understand that there is more than one way practice safe sex and adopt healthcare seeking behaviours, so let's be creative about it!

There are no real criteria for participants other than that they are MSM and happy to have their stories appear as part of the campaign. In addition to the personal stories, the website provides information on HIV/AIDS, sexual health, relationships and broad of the other relevant topics including domestic violence, drugs and alcohol and depression.

Non-specific Urethritis (NSU)

What is it?

Non-specific urethritis (NSU) is an infection that causes inflammation of the urethra (the tube that runs through your cock).

Symptoms

Symptoms can take between one and three weeks to appear after exposure.

Symptoms can include:

  • Pain and a burning sensation when you piss or cum.
  • Yellow discharge from your cock.
  • Glands around your groin may feel inflamed or tender. 

Transmission

NSU can be caused by an infection which is passed on through fucking (anal sex) or blow jobs (oral sex) without condoms. It can also be caused by damage to the urethra from rough sex or foreplay. 

Treatment

NSU is quite easily treated with a single dose of antibiotics orally or through an injection. Symptoms should ease a few days after treatment. If left untreated, NSU can lead to inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis), inflammation of the balls or even infertility. Make sure you avoid sexual contact during the treatment period and get tested again once treatment is complete. If the infection persists the doctor may prescribe a longer course of antibiotics.

Tell us your story

Tell us your story

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Come and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! If you want to find out a little more about how it all works, give Jessie a call at VAC on (03) 9865 6700, or email staying.negative@vac.org.au