Sorry to raise this yet again, but I have no confidence in any opinions of any kind on the Net regarding HIV-AIDS. So I just want to ask a factual question: does anybody in this community personally know of anybody who got infected with HIV from a bargirl in the Philippines, ever?

Once a year I go for a complete std panel. So far, all have been negative. I always questioned the HIV test. In my opinion, a non drug using, heterosexual is not at risk for HIV.
So one time the nurse took out a government memo on HIV. It detailed the risk factor for various individuals, both male and female. Well the highest risk was, obviously a non infected female engaging in unprotected intercourse with an infected male. The chart worked its way down the various combinations, male/male anal/ blow job, ect ect. All the way on the bottom was infected female with uninfected male intercourse.
the rate of infection was something like .3 in 100,000. that's a 1/3 of a person gets infected in 100,000. So the risk is almost non-existent.
I am more worried about herpes and Hep! I am getting my hep shots as we speak.

I would not use this as a guide if you go to Africa buddy.

Well, a zero count after three days. That's encouraging. Thanks, respondents.

I don't know any guys anywhere who have caught HIV from hetero sex. I know a couple of gay guys who are positive and a former heroin shooter whose known for over 15 years. But as far as mongers go, I don't personally know any.

I wouldn't use this as an informal poll on the situation either. The fact of the matter is, you don't want to be having sex with prostitutes without a condom, and if anyone tried to convince you that the risk is low, they are lying. There are a lot of different things you can catch besides HIV, so be smart.

One of my former students recently completed (through Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) a seroprevalence study of HIV among prostitutes (female) in several Brasilian cities. They found a rate of 7%. Rates were higher among street sex workers and those in high traffic/low cost settings (apartment brothels, places like VM) and lower in high cost/lower traffic settings (termas, expensive clubs). No surprise.

While it's difficult to prove that a person did or didn't become infected via sex with a prostitute, there have been announcements on a couple of the Brasilian boards in years past about guys becoming infected, presumably from sex with a GdP.

Not sure why the OP raised the question he did. HIV rates seem relatively low in RP compared to some other destinations (Cambodia, Thailand for example). But two factors give me pause. First, RP has a lousy public health system, and they've done zero seroprevalence studies in recent years, so we don't really know what the situation is with respect to HIV rates among prostitutes there. Second, there are some behavioral factors which would indicate prostitutes in the RP are at risk for increasing rates of HIV. Rates of bb sex are very high, and it's known the Filippino sailors do have high HIV rates, and they frequent prostitutes in the provinces, some of whom find their way to places like AC. On the plus side, most RP girls don't do bb anal, which increases their risk substantially.

In the end, if you have bb sex with an infected girl, there is a small but real risk of becoming infected. BB anal sex increases the risk. Sex with a condom virtually eliminates the risk. Those are the facts. Make your own choice. If you are doing a lot of barebacking, it might be a good idea to get tested.

I know two guys who were presumably infected with HIV while mongering in Cambodia (one was infected my his GF). I know a handful of girls who are HIV positive in Phnom Penh/Snooky who still work.

I do not know of any cases in the Philippines, but I am not as plugged into the expat community there.

From this site, best guess: Westfargo? What did Rakit die from? Ronnie?

I'm just saying...

Plenty on this board have posted about their adventures with trannies. All took them by surprise, of course... Uhh huhhh...

Speaking for myself, I have gotten tested on a regular basis for the last decade and so far been lucky, but it is a long way from my first mongering experience about 15 years ago in which I got about as safe as a service I could (i.e. all covered, CBJ & etc, no kissing), but was still scared afterwards with shit running through my head for days/weeks. Obviously as our monger activities increase we get more confident, bold and start venturing into more and more dangerous territory....until the final line is crossed: barebacking.

Now there does seem to be quite a bit of barebacking going on....some freely admit it, others only to very close friends, other deny but the reality is different, it doesn't matter - but it does happen! It seems, however, that many that have practiced it get hooked and start seeking it more.... but I have not yet heard about one HIV infections or even rumors(other STD's is another story - which are RAMPANT!!!!).

It doesn't really matter in what anyone believes or what numbers might show (I am sure you can find pretty much anything on the Internet to support whatever stance you might have).... Personally, I am completely and 100% convinced (again, this is my own belief) that there is no risk with BBBJ, extremely low to no risk with covered sex (unless it comes of during the act), but a chance - who the hell knows how high or low - when barebacking. I do not believe the chance to be high if all factors are right - no open cuts, no anal sex, but a chance regardless.

Now Porker mentions Trannies....that is an entirely different thing. I would think that there the chances multiply XXXXXX times due to the fact that the gay population does tend to have higher rates to begin with and that in order to have intercourse there really is only one option - the higher risk hole :-)

These days it is so easy to get tested quickly, cheaply, and in completely privacy with the home test kits. Every 6 months has kept me sane...and (unfortunately or fortunately, not sure) encouraged.