HIV

7 ways to prevent HIV

Preventing HIV is a little more complex than “just wear a condom.” Read more

I’ve found out I’m HIV-positive. What do I do now?

I have been living with HIV for more than ten years and you might say I am a bit of an HIV old-timer. Read more

Black gay men: this is why we need to test for HIV

Phil Samba, star of the Me.Him.Us campaign and part of the campaign's development group, breaks down why HIV testing is so important for black gay men. Read more

Cuts to sexual health services over the last few years have made it more difficult for people to get seen in a clinic for a check-up, but for many of us, regular testing is now a lot easier with free at home sample kits. Read more

PrEP: the battle against stigma

FS asked 756 gay and bisexual men for their thoughts on PrEP. The results show a rift between the opinions of those who are taking PrEP and those who oppose it. Read more

Notifying my partners

For some people, the best way to tell their recent sexual partners that they have tested positive for HIV is by doing so face-to-face or over the phone. Read more

Unprotected sex

There are other ways of reducing the risk of HIV being passed on if you don't use condoms; some of them are more effective than others. Read more

Symptoms of recent HIV infection

Most people experience some symptoms shortly after infection with HIV. Read more

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV is usually transmitted sexually, although it can also be spread by sharing needles or from mother to child. Read more

Is he likely to be HIV-positive?

In most cases, when gay men have sex with someone new they will not know their partner's HIV status. Read more

HIV and STI self-testing

Home testing is a way for you to test for HIV and STIs from the comfort of your own home. Most are self-sampling, which you return the products and get your results within a couple of days. Others offer 15 mins results. Read more

Finding my tribe

Going public with my HIV diagnosis, I expected to lose everyone, but the reality couldn’t have been more different. Read more

"If people don't like it, that's their problem, and not mine" - An interview with Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP

Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP talks with Hadley Stewart about his HIV diagnosis, HIV stigma and the global pandemic. Read more

Why black gay men need PrEP

Black gay and bisexual men are far less likely than their white counterparts to take PrEP. Read more

Getting tested: How scary is it? (not very)

Contributor Hadley Stewart, explains that how his own experiences at GUM clinics haven’t been scary at all. Read more

What is serodifferent

Serodifferent is also known as serodiscordant. When a couple is serodifferent, this means one person is living with HIV and the other person is HIV-negative. Read more

HIV doesn’t define a parent’s power to love

Despite significant medical advances, increased awareness and the ability to live a full life with HIV, a social stigma still exists around people with HIV having a family. Read more

How I came to terms with my HIV

A break-up in Edinburgh and my dad dying of cancer back home in the Liverpool area. At the end of August 2011, I had met this amazing and beautiful guy who lived in Paris, and we fell in love within days. Read more

Three reasons to test for HIV

What is your reason for testing for HIV? Maybe it’s habit. Maybe it’s because you did something a little on the ‘riskier’ side. Read more

PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis)

Post Exposure Prophylaxis, or PEP, is a course of HIV medication which you can take if you have been at risk of HIV infection. Read more

Condoms and lube

Condoms used with water-based or silicone-based lube are the surest way to protect you or your partner against HIV and many other sexually transmitted infections. Read more

What is HIV undetectable? (HIV+U | U=U)

HIV Undetectable is a term used to describe someone who is living with HIV but on successful and effective treatment. Someone who is HIV Undetectable cannot pass on the virus through sex. Read more

HIV testing

Everyone has an HIV status; you are either HIV-negative or HIV-positive. Taking an HIV test won't change your status but it will let you know what it is. Read more

Free HIV and STI home-testing kit

Find out how and where to get a free HIV and STI home testing kit Read more

PrEP

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It's a pill that HIV negative people take to prevent HIV transmission. Read more

HIV advice for gay men

We've all heard the myths! If you're gay men you're bound to become HIV-positive. Right? Wrong! Read more

Why should I get tested for HIV?

No matter the result, getting tested is a win-win. Read more

Smoking and HIV

Smoking can be even more damaging to your health if you are HIV-positive. Read more

HIV and the law

A number of people in the UK have been prosecuted and jailed for transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. Read more

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a virus that attacks and weakens the immune system. If it’s untreated, HIV causes so much damage that the body is no longer able to defend itself. Read more

How risky is having sex without condoms?

Most gay and bisexual men who have HIV caught it from having penetrative sex without a condom. Read more

Six myths about PrEP

For a drug that’s proven to prevent the transmission of HIV, the topic of PrEP is a divisive one for the gay community. Read more

Latest

What is Sexual Wellbeing?

Sexual wellbeing is the link between our mental health and our sexual health. When our mental health is impacted, then our sex lives can be impacted too.
Sexual Wellbeing: body confidence

To talk about body confidence, we first have to talk about body image. Body confidence and body image, for many reasons, has always been a big issue within the LGBTQ+ community. Body Image is how we see our appearance and our bodies. It’s also the beliefs we have about the way we look: both positive and negative, and dictates what we think when we look in the mirror.
Sexual Wellbeing: sexual self-esteem

Self-esteem is the opinion we have of ourselves. It the driving force behind our positive, and negative thoughts about our own abilities, worthiness, and value. Our sexual self-esteem is very closely linked. As LGBTQ+ people, for lots of reason, we are more likely to deal with self-esteem issues which can lead to us not taking care of our overall sexual health.
Sexual Wellbeing: consent

Consent means that you have given permission for any intimate and sexual activity. When we are pressured or forced into sexual activity without consent, it’s considered either rape or sexual assault. Consent can be a big issue within the LGBTQ+ community, especially in LGBTQ+ spaces.

Being non-binary

What does it mean to be non-binary?
HIV advice for gay men

We've all heard the myths! If you're gay men you're bound to become HIV-positive. Right? Wrong!
"The Gay Community is Racist"

The question is: are we really that shocked to learn that Britain’s gay scene is so racist?
How risky is having sex without condoms?

Most gay and bisexual men who have HIV caught it from having penetrative sex without a condom.
Safe Sex and STIs - a guide for lesbians

Think lesbians aren't at risk of STIs? Think again.
Herpes

Herpes is a virus that is spread by skin to skin contact.
What are the signs of depression?

Here's what to look out for.
A modern guy's guide to cruising

Perhaps surprisingly, the proud tradition of cruising is still going strong. Wherever you are in the UK, you’re not going to be too far from a spot where you’ll easily find other men who want to hook up with men. There are plenty of apps and websites dedicated to helping you out if you want to have sex in a public place.
Shigella

Shigella (or bacillary dysentery) is a bacterial infection which you can get by coming into contact with poo.
Meet the gay men who are not out

Sometimes we in our little gay bubble forget that not all gay men come out. In our coming out survey, about 10% of those who responded told us they were not ‘out’.