For many a gay man the preparation for Mardi Gras involves endless weights, tanning, waxing, clipping and preening. Time, energy and money all go into making sure it is a night not to forget. The WA AIDS Council (WAAC) hopes that all your preparation paid off and that you had an amazing time.
WAAC would also like to remind you to do a little maintenance post Mardi Gras, in the form of HIV/STI screening, if you made the pilgrimage over to Sydney in March. It is important to keep in mind that a number of infections (such as HIV and Syphilis) are more common in NSW, and this can be particularly true at Mardi Gras, when people flock to Sydney from all over the world, including places with higher infection rates. Even if you practised safe sex, you could still be at risk of picking up syphilis or another sexually transmissible infection (STI) through other sexual activities like oral sex. If you did have unprotected sex, be it a slip up or a conscious risk you decided to take, WAAC would like to offer you its services. It’s better to know and do something positive about it sooner rather than later.
The good news is that the hangover from the party need not persist because STIs are curable or treatable, so it really is worthwhile getting a test. Not all STIs show symptoms, so testing is the only way to know for sure. WAAC invites you to come along to its Perth Steamworks Sauna Clinic on Mondays 3-5pm or 7-9pm, or to its FLASH Clinic on Saturdays 9am-12.30pm, to tell us all about your Mardi Gras experience, and to get free, confidential HIV/STI screening. If you have any symptoms of an STI like; discharge, stinging sensations, sores, or rashes, or would like more information about testing, please call 9482 0000.
The Project X Team
