Rimming is a timeless act practiced to perfection by GLBTI bed-hoppers across the nation, yet how many tongue-talented men use dental dams for protection against liver-busting Hepatitis A and intestinal-tract fiends Shigella and Giardia?

Dental dams can be found at chemists, outreach centres and some supermarkets and although they're not as prevalent  as the fabled condom, they are square pieces of the same impermeable latex found in penile raincoats.

Therefore condoms can suffice if you want an innovative DIY project to dive into, simply cut a condom into a large square-shape by snipping off the teat and voila, a dental dam is yours - minus the embarassment of endeavouring out  to your local mini-mart in search of an analingis product.

Yet how many of you would actually want to use a dental dam when rimming or being rimmed? Yes it will diminish the pleasure to both partners, but it will give you the peace of mind to know you're not putting you or someone you  love at risk of stomach-bugs which wreak havoc with peoples health.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A can last for months and include jaundice, vomiting and lethargy, whilst Shigella and Giardia can cause acute symptoms mimicking gastrointestinal disorders and severe food poisoning.

Considering rimming is NOT on the list of activities known to transmit blood-borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C, many people are complacent when it comes to analingis and protection. And it's got me thinking -  do rimmers really give a damn about stomach bacteriums when the scourge of HIV and the troupe of BBV's have a   monopoly on our fear?

but don’t get too personal

The myth that Australian men suffer health problems because they avoid the doctor has been challenged by a survey that shows the majority of men aged 40 to 69 years (86 per cent) have seen a doctor in the past 12 months, with an average of four visits per person.

However, the macho Aussie character has not disappeared completely once in the doctor’s office, with more than half of the men surveyed reporting they would not be comfortable seeking advice from a doctor on issues of a more sensitive nature, such as erection problems or their libido.

These are key findings of The HIS Report, which is based on a nationwide survey of more than 1,500 men aged 40-69 years conducted by Galaxy Research for Lilly Australia and explores the attitudes of mid-life males to Health, Identity and Sex.

According to The HIS Report, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and weight are the health issues most men aged 40 to 69 years expect to discuss, along with the state of their prostate and family medical history. Few men expect to discuss more personal matters, such as their sex life. Jeff Gilling, a Melbourne-based social researcher said, “The reluctance of men to talk about personal matters stems in part from the social stigma attached to issues relating to ageing and masculinity.

“A man confiding in a doctor that he has erection problems, or that his sex life is lagging, is a big admission. It says, ‘I’m getting older and I’m not as resilient as I once was’,” Mr Gilling added.

FRENCH MOVE TO LIFT GAY BLOOD BAN PROMPTS CALL FOR DONOR REFORM IN AUSTRALIA

Australian gay blood donation advocates have welcomed an announcement by the French Government that it will lift the ban on gay men giving blood and focus on donors' risky sexual activity instead.

The French Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Marisol Touraine, announced the move as she gave blood on World Blood Donation Day last week.

She said, "the criterion [for donation] cannot be the nature of sexual relations or sexual orientation. The only criterion is that of risk, and on that point we will ensure that men who have sex with men are able to give blood because that is not, in itself, a risk factor."

Gay blood donation campaigner, Michael Cain, said the French Government's proposed policy reflects the policy he wishes to see adopted in Australia.

"We now know it's unsafe sex, not gay sex, which puts people at risk from HIV so it's time for Australian Red Cross to screen donors for the former, not the latter."

"The overseas experience shows screening potential donors for the safety of their sexual activity rather than the gender of their sexual partner reduces levels of disease in the blood supply and increases the supply of safe blood."

"Like many other gay men who are at extremely low risk of HIV and other STIs I want to be able to give the gift of life."

Earlier this month the Australian Red Cross released an independent report which recommends reducing the period gay men have to wait to donate blood after having sex from one year to six months.

But Mr Cain said the reduction would not be a step forward.

"Gay men like me, who are at lower risk of HIV than many of the heterosexuals who are currently allowed to donate, will still be barred from donating."

In 2008 Mr Cain took a case against the blanket ban on gay blood donation to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal but the Tribunal ruled it did not have the authority to overturn the ban.

For a report on the French Government's announcement here.

A new combination of existing HIV medications has been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) as of the 1/06/2012.

While not suitable for all people living with HIV, EVIPLERA(r) is the second HIV medication consisting of one pill per day and is another option for people living with HIV

EVIPLERA(r) ( a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitab ine/rilpivirine) , a complete once-daily single tablet regimen, is now available on the PBS providing people living with HIV with another simplified treatment option for the cost of a single PBS script.

If you are thinking of starting treatment or changing medications talk to your S100 HIV prescribing Doctor for further information.

aidsaction.org.au/aac

ADVOCATES SAY PROPOSED CHANGE TO IN GAY BLOOD DONOR RULES "WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE"
CALL FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT "TRULY INDEPENDENT" REVIEW
CAIN STILL NOT ABLE TO DONATE BLOOD

Advocates say reducing the period gay men have to abstain from sex before they can give blood from 12 months to 6 will mean the overwhelming majority of gay men with safe blood will still be excluded from donating.

Today the Australian Red Cross Blood Service released the results of a review it commissioned into the issue which recommends the deferral period for men who have sex with men - the period they must wait between their last sexual activity and giving blood - be reduced from a year to 6 months.

But the man whose Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination case against the gay blood ban sparked the review, Michael Cain, said the change will make no difference.

"Like most gay men I will still not be able to donate under the proposed policy, even though I have a far, far lower risk of catching HIV than many heterosexual people who can currently donate", Mr Cain said.

"The only way to remove discrimination from blood donation and increase the pool of safe blood from donors such as myself is to adopt a policy which screens all donors for the safety of their sexual activity rather than the gender of their partner."

"The review's recommendations are not a step forward and leave me feeling really frustrated that the focus continues to be on my partner's gender rather than how safe we are."

Tasmanian gay rights advocate, Rodney Croome, who was a researcher on Mr Cain's case, said the review is flawed because it draws data about rates of HIV among gay men from studies done in sex venues and bars.

"Experts who appeared in Michael Cain's case made it clear that the data upon which the current ban is based only takes into account people with high HIV risk and ignores the vast bulk of gay men who are at much lower risk."

"It's extremely disappointing that the review has replicated this mistake."

"The only way to resolve this issue is for the Government to commission a truly independent review."

For a copy of the review go to: transfusion.com.au/sites/default/files/Blood%20Review%20Report.pdf