For a long time, condoms were the only method of protection against HIV. But now there are more: Protection through therapy (with a successful HIV therapy) the PEP as a so-called "post-risk precaution" and the PrEPPre-risk prevention, in which HIV-negative people take HIV medication as a precautionary measure, extends the options for protection. That is good. But will this make condoms the safer sex method of yesterday? We asked six men for their opinion. Today, the first three have their say:
For 32-year-old Johannes, condoms remain a normal part of sex. The Berliner, who is a own blog writes:
"Fucking without a condom outside of a relationship seems like an absurd idea to me. Of course I'd prefer it if I could just do it without. I guess every man feels that way. I was educated very early on about everything you can get, from gonorrhoea to syphilis to HIV. That's why I think the pros and cons always work out in favour of condoms. I like having sex and have certainly had plenty of it as a big-city gay man. Condoms were never a problem for me. But now it seems to me that my safer sex preference is a problem for many others. That annoys me. If someone consciously or unconsciously decides in favour of unsafe sex and doesn't care about the possible consequences, that's their business. But I don't think that's a good thing. In any case, it can't be that condom use is currently seen as something antiquated. There are more sexually transmitted diseases than HIV, and everyone can help to keep them in check. The only way to do that is with condoms."
Steffen from Bremen is HIV-positive. However, no viruses are detectable in his blood because he takes daily tablets. The medication allows the 46-year-old to do without condoms. He cannot infect anyone and is also protected against a second infection.
"Until my infection, I put on condoms and only let myself be fucked twice without them (I swear!). Since I've been in treatment, I'm doing well and my viral load is below the detection limit. That's why I'm finding it harder and harder to have sex with a condom. I know that I can get infected with other diseases. For example, I've had syphilis before. But I can't get out of my skin. There is medication for everything except HIV, and my instinct is stronger than my reason. I know that gonorrhoea and the like are now developing resistance. But firstly, you can also get these bacteria if you have a rubber on your wiener when you're having sex. And secondly, I can't get it up while watching porn if the guys are using rubbers. To me, sex with a condom feels like penetration with an ALDI cucumber wrapped in foil. It's just no fun!"
22-year-old Robert from Herford bemoans the carelessness of his generation - and admonishes other homosexuals to live less promiscuously.
"In my opinion, the topic of safer sex with a condom remains important despite good HIV medication. On average, gay men change sex partners more often than straight men. In my environment, however, there is only limited emphasis on rubbers. Instead, people have 'fun' here and there, which seems to automatically mean bareback. I don't want to pigeonhole anyone. I'm just reporting my experiences. I myself use condoms reluctantly, but I consider them indispensable, at least outside of a relationship. I agreed with my ex-boyfriend that we would both get tested and have sex without condoms if the result was negative. This requires a lot of trust. I've heard of other methods of protection, but I'm not in favour of them. Instead, some homosexuals should ask themselves whether constantly changing sexual partners is really necessary."
Manuel is what PrEP does, Marc uses condoms and justifies this not only with safer sex and Ben looks at the topic of condoms as a youth worker. What these three say about the rubber, you can find out here.
