Both my friend and I caught an STD/STI around the same time this month. Is something going around lately? This is my second time this year. It’s pretty tough having to put my activities on hold until I’m fully recovered.

I’m Aya, a female member. I’ve been doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) and seeing older men as a mistress for several years, but I’ve never had an unexpected pregnancy. Are you all making sure to use contraception…??

I’m column writer Fuu. Thanks to everyone, I’ve been doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) for just under three years, and I’ve never once contracted an STI. As I’ve mentioned in past columns and answers, my PJ’s boyfriend once visited an adult-entertainment establishment and contracted an STI, so I got tested as a close contact of a close contact—but the result was negative. I do feel affection, and it does feel good, so I’m not against going without protection. But if you’re going to, make sure you take proper precautions! In my case, I don’t have enough financial power to tell my PJ not to see other men. I’m also fine with him having other papas or a boyfriend, so we basically always use condoms. I also wash thoroughly with soap. I learned during COVID that soap has a surprisingly strong antibacterial effect, so after an adult relationship (intimate), I always make sure to wash thoroughly with soap. I know it may be difficult for PJs to speak up when you’re the one receiving an allowance, but to protect yourself, be firm. If you’re going to go without protection, verify that the other person isn’t seeing multiple partners and doesn’t visit adult-entertainment establishments. Do your homework, protect yourself, and stay safe.

Maezawa from the President’s Office here. Looking at the figures for Tokyo, everything except syphilis appears to have decreased compared with the same month last year. The comparison was between the pre-COVID period (2019) and during the pandemic (2020), but syphilis had also been increasing at a tremendous rate until a few years ago, reaching a peak. It seems to have declined slightly since then, but cases are still far higher than in 2013 and have yet to return to previous levels.

I’m Kazu, a male member. I was shocked to read that you’re having sex without condoms, frequently changing partners at a pace that sounds like compensated sex work! I was the male member at my branch who paid the most in arrangement fees for several months last year, and even so, I’ve never caught anything.

I’m a male member, paper airplane. I’ve never had anything passed on to me, and I don’t think it’s particularly common. With multiple partners, the risk may indeed be higher. Other than that, I guess it comes down to luck…