Gay Men's Health Outreach of Southwest Missouri - GMHO

02/26/2024

Hello, fellas and friends!
Lately, there have been some questions about and surprise in learning there is a post-event option for protection against HIV infection. While we rightly speak loudly and often about PrEP (pre-exposure or pre-event prevention that reduces HIV infection possibility), it seems that PEP knowledge may be lagging. Please check out the linked video from CDC for some solid info about this HIV prevention option! Be aware and be well!

This animation provides basic information on Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). PEP means taking medicine to prevent HIV after a possible exposure. PEP should ...

01/04/2024

Leandro Mena, MD, MPH es un especialista en enfermedades infecciosas con experiencia en la prevención y el manejo clínico de las ITS y el VIH. Se desempeñó c...

01/06/2023

Happy, Healthy New Year, one and all!

Not to be a Debbie Downer but let's chat for a minute about your health and well-being in 2023: Did you have a bit too much fun during the holiday season? Was your Thanksgiving stuffing not limited to your turkey? Did you ring in the New Year next to a new s*xual partner? Did you go with the flow, during the moment but now have concerns about contracting a s*xually transmitted infection?

As you will see from the dated graphic, below, many folks found themselves in the same boat in the last several years. Though the infospot's number may seem startling, the numbers for STIs, particularly among the younger crowd, continue to trend upward. STIs can be a part of being a s*xual being but s*xual activity doesn't have to equal positive results. How, you may ask?

You can reduce your risks for getting a STI, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia or HIV, through the following:

- get tested for STIs before engaging with a new partner or partners.
- be as consistent as possible with your use of condoms, dental dams, and l**e.
- specific to HIV, consider getting on and maintaining PrEP, which is highly effective in protecting you against HIV infection.
- communicate with your partner or partners about symptoms you may be experiencing, which seem out of the ordinary for you, encouraging them to get tested (and treated) if they have concerns or symptoms.
- be sure to delay all s*xual activity, if you are being treated for a STI, for the entire time advised by your medical practitioner; this ensures that you clear the infection you are experiencing, gives your partner(s) time to get tested and treated, and avoids experiencing re-infection of same infection from untreated partners.

03/09/2021

Why are we sharing info about women and girls to the GMHO page? Well, we all have women in our lives, at some point, be they mothers, sisters, gal pals... and we are all in this existence together, working to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Please pass this video on to your lady friends and family...

A conversation with Black women about HIV. As part of an ongoing series, we invited four women to discuss HIV in their communities. They had a lot to say abo...

09/08/2020

We realize that the world doesn't stop spinning, even in the midst of a pandemic; if you need another free, confidential place to get some STI testing done, take note of the attached announcement!
Please follow the house rules and thank you, in advance, for stopping by to check in on your health!

We're here for ya, folks!

04/17/2020

Tomorrow is National Transgender HIV Testing Day. Please, find safe support to TALK to about your HIV/STD prevention needs; TEST at your available clinic or provider to know you status; seek out the quality healthcare you need to TREAT HIV (and other STDs) if you test positive.

You deserve a happy, healthy life!

04/16/2020

If you are transgender, please TALK to your doctor or STD clinic about HIV testing. Need a HIV TEST? Please check the CDC testing locator at http://gettested.cdc.gov. If you test HIV+, please follow recommendations to TREAT and manage HIV in your life!

The National HIV, STD, and Viral Hepatitis Testing Resources, GetTested Web site is a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This Web site provides users with locations for HIV, STD, and hepatitis testing and STD and hepatitis vaccines around the United States.

04/16/2020

In the United States, it is estimated that around 1.4 million adults identify as transgender. Transgender women are at high risk of having HIV and of contracting HIV. Transgender women of color, especially black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women, experience disproportionately high rates of HIV. There is a gap in research on HIV and transgender men; few studies have gathered HIV prevalence data for this population.

04/15/2020

""It is important to note that not all transgender women are at risk for HIV. Like many populations, those at greatest risk are more likely to be poor, homeless, young, people of color and s*x workers."
Prepared by J. Keatley MSW, CAPS, Pacific AETC/W. Bockting PhD, U. of MN

02/10/2020

Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was born in Richmond, VA in 1943.He was an acclaimed tennis player, a civil rights activist, and an author. Arthur began his athletic career at the young age of 7, when he began learning tennis; he was encouraged in his scholastic and athletic endeavors by his father. Growing up in still-segregated Richmond, Ashe was frequently unable to play with or against his Caucasian counterparts. Despite the obstacles in his path, courtesy of the racist policies of the time, Ashe continued to compete and eventually broke through the color barrier in tennis. In 1963, Arthur Ashe became the first African American to be selected to the Davis Cup Team. Ashe extended his historic firsts by becoming the first black man to win the US Open Championship in 1968. His storied career also reflected Championship Singles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. In addition to his participation as a world-ranked player, Arthur worked in player advocacy and administration for the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals), during the 1970s. Toward the end of his playing career, Ashe experienced some significant health issues, which eventually led to his professional retirement. Particularly, Arthur Ashe dealt with heart issues, similar to the cardiac issues that had led to his mother's early passing. Arthur underwent two different heart surgeries for cardiovascular issues and during the later of the procedures, it is thought that he received blood products which contained HIV; this was unknown to Ashe and his family until he was hospitalized, 5 years later, and learned of his diagnosis. In 1992, after feeling pressured to out his HIV status, Ashe publicly disclosed that he had the disease. He created his namesake foundation in order to raise awareness about AIDS and press for increases in research funding. Arthur Ashe continued to speak up and speak out about safer s*x and HIV until mere months prior to his death in 1993. He was 49 years old.