STDs in Erotica - Yes or No?

[joy_of_cooking]

@Bramblethorn Yeah, upon re-reading the bit you quoted I see how I was unclear. I do believe that PrEP is good for HIV. My reference to the choir was more like, "Remember that time a new thing emerged and absolutely destroyed an entire generation of men?" Barrier methods are pretty general-purpose. (Although not great against, e.g., HSV or HPV.)

 

[Levorotatory]

Some authors like to write stories in a world where STIs/unwanted pregnancy/etc. aren't a concern. Some do acknowledge these risks. As with so many things, it's an individual choice; some enjoy escapism, some find realism more relatable and hence more enjoyable.

I am on the realism side there. I tend to think "you idiots, what are you doing?" when there isn't at least a quick mention of pregnancy and STI prevention before things that could result in pregnancy and/or STI transmission happen.

 

[intim8]

OK, I have read quite a lot of erotica on LIT, and have noticed that there very rarely is any mention of people worrying about AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease.

In my stories, I tend to avoid those as if they don't exist. It provides a freedom to write whatever and have my characters not have to worry about dying from some god awful disease.

Am I the only one who does this?

From my bio here:
"I write in a fantasy universe where STD's aren't a concern and birth control works every time..."

Unless a particular plot or situaton requires them to be a concern and a risk.

Also, my characters never have to take a dump, and rarely even piss. Even realistic stories don't need to be that realistic.

 

[LonRivers]

From my bio here:
"I write in a fantasy universe where STD's aren't a concern and birth control works every time..."

Unless a particular plot or situaton requires them to be a concern and a risk.

Also, my characters never have to take a dump, and rarely even piss. Even realistic stories don't need to be that realistic.

I have never had a character take a dump, but I have written in where they pee. It's less gross.

 

[intim8]

Remember that time a new thing emerged and absolutely destroyed an entire generation of men?

I wrote a whole series here about it. The story I happen to be working on right now has as it's background the generational consequences.

 

[MrPixel]

Also, my characters never have to take a dump,

I have never had a character take a dump,

Oh, you guys are no fun. It makes for great comedy. Just last Sunday I had a story go up with the following dialog, about a group of lovers at a resort preparing to break camp:

"Steven!" Debbie complains. "You gonna be in there all day?"

"Can't a guy take a shit in peace?" he moans.

Emily gripes from the bedroom, "Gawd, Stevie! You have to do that now? Use the air freshener when you're done!"

Cyan chuckles at her lovers' grumpy repartee, and glances around the corner having heard the front door open.

"Look who the cat dragged in," she laughs at Sarah and Brett. Brett trips over the threshold, still not yet fully awake. Sarah shakes her head at him.

"You were a busy girl last night," Cy grins at Sarah.

"And I sure am feelin' it," she grumbles back. "Emily? You have enough of that ointment to share?"

"Yep. You should see the tube in with my makeup. Zipper baggie on top."

"Thanks. Hey Steven!"

"Gawdfuckingdammit," replies the mumbling echo from the bathroom. "What?"

"Do I have time for the hot tub? Gotta soak things!"

"Doesn't matter! You can leave whenever you want!"

"I'd like you to join me!"

"If you put it that way, okay, and I'll be out in a minute!"

"Use the spray!" Emily goads again.

"Uh. Steve?" Jackson requests.

"Yeah?"

"I told Henderson we'd be there after lunch."

"Well that was a bit optimistic. Even if we don't stop for breakfast, the best you're going to do is be there by around two o'clock!" as Steve emerges from the bathroom.

Emily is pushing past him in the doorway for her own constitutional, wrinkling her nose as she brushes away the cloud of room deodorizer. ...

 

[Britva415]

It's funny how they think being on a medication seems to keep them safe from something like AIDS.

What do you mean?

In 2024, being on medication (PrEP) does keep someone from getting HIV.
Being on medication (HAART) does keep an infected person from transmitting HIV.
Getting medication after an otherwise unprotected risky encounter (PEP) does keep someone from getting HIV.
And PEP is also available for non-viral STD's as well.

Is this different from what you were talking about?

 

[AprilTwenties]

Depends on the story and the subtext, boo. If it adds, then use it. Actually, even if it doesn't 'cos real life is like that.

For me, I have wrote some stuff about my life an lifestyle, and getting checked has been part of that. Actually, getting an STD was an important part of my life, and the subsequent repercussions afterwards, and I think that added something to the story that I was tryin' to tell. That added to some of the other characters within the story.

Look..it's your story. Whatever means something to you, by all means write about it boo.

A x

 

[LonRivers]

What do you mean?

In 2024, being on medication (PrEP) does keep someone from getting HIV.
Being on medication (HAART) does keep an infected person from transmitting HIV.
Getting medication after an otherwise unprotected risky encounter (PEP) does keep someone from getting HIV.
And PEP is also available for non-viral STD's as well.

Is this different from what you were talking about?

And I supposed every sexually active man and woman without insurance or a decent paying job can afford it?

• PrEP costs without insurance can reach $22,000 to $30,000 a year.

HAART can cost just as much if not more. The average sexually active teenager does not have access to these medications unless purchased by their parents, and if those sexually active teenagers don't want their parents to know they are sexually active, and it doesn't matter if they are gay or straight, they don't have access to these medications.

If these drugs are that good, and I have no doubt that they are, they should be over the counter and affordable for everyone, no questions asked. Fuck making money off of them if they prevent the spread of disease and keep our kids and adults safer.

 

[LonRivers]

Depends on the story and the subtext, boo. If it adds, then use it. Actually, even if it doesn't 'cos real life is like that.

For me, I have wrote some stuff about my life an lifestyle, and getting checked has been part of that. Actually, getting an STD was an important part of my life, and the subsequent repercussions afterwards, and I think that added something to the story that I was tryin' to tell. That added to some of the other characters within the story.

Look..it's your story. Whatever means something to you, by all means write about it boo.

A x

If the subject fits a story, I think that it is needed. I was just curious if other writers felt the same as me, and left the threat out of their stories.

 

[AprilTwenties]

If the subject fits a story, I think that it is needed. I was just curious if other writers felt the same as me, and left the threat out of their stories.

It could be used as a red herring too, boo...no fish jokes! Lol! Stories can have all sorts of different subjects in. Helps, I think, to flesh out the story an' make it more 3 dimensional.

A x

 

[THBGato]

https://www.literotica.com/s/ooh-child
Ooh Child by Waxphilosophic - deals with a HIV positive character, though never specifies how she became infected. Very moving.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

And I supposed every sexually active man and woman without insurance or a decent paying job can afford it?

• PrEP costs without insurance can reach $22,000 to $30,000 a year.

HAART can cost just as much if not more. The average sexually active teenager does not have access to these medications unless purchased by their parents, and if those sexually active teenagers don't want their parents to know they are sexually active, and it doesn't matter if they are gay or straight, they don't have access to these medications.

If these drugs are that good, and I have no doubt that they are, they should be over the counter and affordable for everyone, no questions asked. Fuck making money off of them if they prevent the spread of disease and keep our kids and adults safer.

Fuck. Intellectually I know about the limitations of US healthcare, but I'd kind of assumed charities and sexual health services would be providing free or low-cost HIV meds and PrEP by now.

In the UK meds are free for under-19s and many other groups, £9.90 per prescription if you have to pay. The NHS is creaking but sexual health services (especially for under-25s and other high-risk groups), and efficient prescriptions including online provision, is a strength.

 

[Bramblethorn]

And I supposed every sexually active man and woman without insurance or a decent paying job can afford it?

You're moving the goalposts. The discussion wasn't about the cost of PrEP, it was about whether it works; obviously nobody is suggesting that medications can protect people who don't take them.

But on the topic of costs, the USA is not the whole world. Where I live, PrEP costs about USD 20/month, or USD 5/month for people with a health care concession card. If somebody's so broke they can't afford $5/month, they probably can't afford condoms either.

Even in the USA, that "$22k-30k" sounds like a worst-case scenario rather than a typical one. From what I can see, brand-name Truvada is ridiculously expensive in the US but generics are about $30-60/month.

HAART can cost just as much if not more. The average sexually active teenager does not have access to these medications unless purchased by their parents, and if those sexually active teenagers don't want their parents to know they are sexually active, and it doesn't matter if they are gay or straight, they don't have access to these medications.

Sure. But again, nobody was ever suggesting that PrEP protects people who aren't taking it.

If these drugs are that good, and I have no doubt that they are, they should be over the counter and affordable for everyone, no questions asked. Fuck making money off of them if they prevent the spread of disease and keep our kids and adults safer.

PrEP isn't a good candidate for an OTC drug, because it does require regular monitoring. But definitely it should be affordable for everybody, and in countries with a functional healthcare system it is.

 

[LonRivers]

Fuck. Intellectually I know about the limitations of US healthcare, but I'd kind of assumed charities and sexual health services would be providing free or low-cost HIV meds and PrEP by now.

In the UK meds are free for under-19s and many other groups, £9.90 per prescription if you have to pay. The NHS is creaking but sexual health services (especially for under-25s and other high-risk groups), and efficient prescriptions including online provision, is a strength.

It's hard to say if we have that here. Most big pharmaceutical companies only care about making money. They don't gibe two shits about if people get sick and die if they can't afford their medications. My brother has to take shots that cost almost 6 grand a needle. Lucky for him he does have great insurance, but even then if he didn't have the discounts he would still be paying 600/shot. I know a lot of people who keep their dead end jobs simply because of the insurance just to get their prescriptions.

 

[LonRivers]

You're moving the goalposts. The discussion wasn't about the cost of PrEP, it was about whether it works; obviously nobody is suggesting that medications can protect people who don't take them.

But on the topic of costs, the USA is not the whole world. Where I live, PrEP costs about USD 20/month, or USD 5/month for people with a health care concession card. If somebody's so broke they can't afford $5/month, they probably can't afford condoms either.

Even in the USA, that "$22k-30k" sounds like a worst-case scenario rather than a typical one. From what I can see, brand-name Truvada is ridiculously expensive in the US but generics are about $30-60/month.



Sure. But again, nobody was ever suggesting that PrEP protects people who aren't taking it.



PrEP isn't a good candidate for an OTC drug, because it does require regular monitoring. But definitely it should be affordable for everybody, and in countries with a functional healthcare system it is.

You are right. We got off topic.

But it gave me an idea for a story. Not on sexually transmitted diseases though. I will probably still continue to leave those out of my stories. As I have said before, I like to keep as much reality out of fantasy.

 

[yowser]

As usual, this all depends on the nature of the story, its characters and what they're after. For more than one of my tales the issue is the first fulcrum of trust. This can be handled without fuss, and a "Your health?" question can lead to the Rubicon event.

In another story, it demonstrates the female siren's capacity to exert control over her potential suitor:

"You'll need a clean health report. The campus clinic can do this and have results within four or five days." Her brown eyes pierced me, unblinking.

This meant that tonight was perhaps not going to be an option. I flinched.

"Ah, but I have protection," I countered. "With me. No need." I patted my pant's back pocket.

She wrinkled up her face. "I hate condoms. And doesn't matter anyway, you will have to prove you are clear before anything happens." She stared at me evenly. "Pregnancy's not an issue but the other stuff is."

More than one way to go.

 

[Britva415]

And I supposed every sexually active man and woman without insurance or a decent paying job can afford it?

That's utterly unrelated to whether they work or not.

What you were complaining about was as if young people thought there was some "magic power" which was an old wive's tale and false, and was leading them to take chances without knowing the risks.

Now, if you were to connect that thought to the idea that maybe young people are crossing their fingers and assuming their partners are the ones who "can afford" these meds, and therefore are "safe" partners, that's not something which was present in what you said, so, how was I to know. I still don't know whether that's what you actually think.

 

[Britva415]

Intellectually I know about the limitations of US healthcare, but I'd kind of assumed charities and sexual health services would be providing free or low-cost HIV meds and PrEP by now.

I don't know about PrEP, but HIV-infected people can get antiretroviral medication paid for by the federal government under the Ryan White funding program if they don't otherwise have any way of getting coverage for it.

PrEP and PEP, probably not.

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

OK, I have read quite a lot of erotica on LIT, and have noticed that there very rarely is any mention of people worrying about AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease.

In my stories, I tend to avoid those as if they don't exist. It provides a freedom to write whatever and have my characters not have to worry about dying from some god awful disease.

Am I the only one who does this?

You're definitely not alone. This is exactly the approach I take for exactly the reasons you gave. My FMCs already have to worry about getting pregnant (which nearly always happens), and the last thing I, or any reader, wants is for the sex to be ruined by diseases transmitted by sex (or any other way).

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

You're definitely not alone. This is exactly the approach I take for exactly the reasons you gave. My FMCs already have to worry about getting pregnant (which nearly always happens), and the last thing I, or any reader, wants is for the sex to be ruined by diseases transmitted by sex (or any other way).

Curious. None of my FMCs get pregnant, but then, they're almost all transgender, so...

 

[jehoram]

It's interesting how the ebb and flow of pandemic STI's have influenced cultural views towards sexual practices over the millennia. Currently, were passing through a 'happy-time'. Enjoy.

Maybe not so happy. STIs are on the rise again, particularly in certain population groups.

As for me, I write about intelligent people who know about STIs and take them into account in their lovemaking.

 

[Abbafan]

Depends what you're going for, the tone of the story, I suppose. Gritty realism can be erotic if done a certain way. I don't think worrying about STDs or birth control will necessarily break the spell.

 

[intim8]

Curious. None of my FMCs get pregnant, but then, they're almost all transgender, so...

My series is all about people getting pregnant. MC is the only guy in a 400 mile radius that is fertile. But even there, nobody is trying not to.

 

[LonRivers]

I just think that in the stories being written that explore a wealth of sexual adventures that (we hope) engage the readers so that they can enjoy either a good story for a few minutes or a long story for several chapters, the last thing they want to read about is disease, sickness and death, unless it is of course a Horror story.

If it is done right, I suppose there is a place for it in mention as a way to let the reader know it is being taken into consideration or that the threat is there.