Sexual health and pap smears for trans men
Most people have heard of a Pap smear. It’s a test to check for precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix, the part of the body at the top of the vagina. Anyone who has a cervix and who has ever had penetrative sex (including with sex toys or fingers) should visit their GP …
AskDocQ: 14 things you need to know about syphilis
In the nineteenth century, hospitals used donkeys to breastfeed foundling babies born with syphilis. It’s true! They did it to protect wet nurses from catching the highly contagious disease. Syphilis, often thought of as an ancient disease, is on the rise again globally. There is currently an outbreak in the north of Australia mainly affecting …
AskDocQ: What does HIV viral load mean?
You’ve been cruising along with an undetectable HIV viral load for years. Suddenly – the horror – you go to your routine appointment and your doctor tells you there’s an actual detectable number for your virus. Maybe 30, 50 or 100, instead of the usual <20 result. It’s OK your doc says, it’s nothing to …
AskDocQ: The truth about steroids
Are you someone who uses performance enhancing substances? Maybe you’ve been thinking about buying steroids from a trainer or an online shop? Many guys use non-prescription testosterone and other substances to build up their muscles and get more out of their training sessions, sometimes “stacking” multiple anabolic androgenic steroids in a cycle. The levels of …
AskDocQ: Everything you need to know about shigella
Shigella rarely makes the news, but it is lately. You may also notice it mentioned in sexual health literature. It’s a bacterial infection that causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea and fever. You can catch Shigella from contaminated food or water, or from infected people. Men who have sex with men, are at higher risk of …
AskDocQ: don’t hesitate… vaccinate
There’s currently a spate of infectious disease outbreaks around the world, including a measles outbreak. So now is the perfect time for a reminder about the benefits of vaccination, writes Dr Fiona Bisshop. Measles is making the headlines after a series of outbreaks across the world, including a string of cases in Brisbane. Most local …
AskDocQ: Some helpful chest binding tips for trans masculine folk
Chest dysphoria is one of the most significant contributors to depression in transgender men. Most trans masculine people would prefer flat chests, not surprising in a world where people’s brains automatically gender someone based on physical outline. Many trans guys have such strong dysphoria regarding their chests that they cannot stand to look in the …
AskDocQ: U=U means if a person with HIV is undetectable, they can’t pass it on
A person with HIV who is on treatment and is undetectable cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partner. There is no risk. Zero. Brisbane LGBTIQ health specialist Dr Fiona Bisshop explains why. I need to have a rant about U=U and HIV. I’ve written about this before, and sorry for repeating myself, but every time I think …
AskDocQ: Keep calm and stay PrEP’d
Australian Steve Spencer has become the seventh person worldwide known to have contracted HIV while taking prevention drug PrEP, out of an estimated 450,000 users around the globe. The medication has proved to be a highly effective HIV prevention strategy and has dramatically reduced rates of infection, writes Brisbane LGBTIQ health specialist Dr Fiona Bisshop. …
AskDocQ: Beyond the headlines, the truth about HIV ‘cure’ case
You might have heard about the story that broke last week — a second person “cured” of HIV. Nicknamed the “London patient,” he underwent a cancer treatment which prevented the virus from re-infecting his donor cells, thus effectively clearing his immune system of all trace of HIV. Newspaper front pages loudly proclaimed that he is …