Adenovirus: The Eye-Melting, Urethra-Burning, Totally-Not-an-STI STI

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🎙️ Episode Title:
“Adenovirus: The Eye-Melting, Urethra-Burning, Totally-Not-an-STI STI”

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🎧 Episode Description:
You thought you knew your STIs. You thought testing negative meant you were in the clear. You thought pink eye was just something kids get in school.

Then you got hit with this.

In this episode of the Shameless Care Podcast, Robert and Anna dive into one of the most surprisingly common, totally under-discussed, and outrageously versatile infections in the health world: adenovirus.

Most people think of adenovirus as a harmless “cold virus.” But it can also cause conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, bladder infections, painful urination, and in rare cases, sepsis. And yes—it can spread through oral sex.

Robert shares his personal horror story: brutal pink eye that knocked him out of commission, followed by excruciating urethritis. It wasn’t gonorrhea. It wasn’t chlamydia. It was adenovirus—transmitted via sex. And he wasn’t the only one. Nearly everyone in his friend group got it, especially the men, and no one realized what it was… until it was too late.

You’ll learn:
•What adenovirus is and how many strains exist
•The symptoms you don’t expect (like painful urination after receiving oral)
•How adenovirus is transmitted (hint: it’s more than coughing)
•Why it doesn’t show up on your STI panel—but absolutely belongs in sex-positive conversations
•The terrifying moment Robert had Betadine poured directly into his infected eyes (spoiler: it didn’t work)

We’ll also talk about why adenovirus isn’t technically an STI—but still absolutely is a sexually transmitted infection in practice. And how this weird little virus exposes just how blurry the line is between “safe” and “standard,” and why STI stigma still misses the point.

This episode is equal parts gross, fascinating, and essential listening. Because sex spreads more than what we test for, and your negative panel doesn’t tell the whole story.

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#Adenovirus #STIeducation #SexuallyTransmittedInfections #Conjunctivitis #OralSexRisks
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#BetadineInTheEyes #SwingerHealth #ModernSTI #InvisibleSTI #SexMyths #TestAndTreat
#StigmaFree #SexScience #SexEducationMatters #ScienceIsSexy
#ShamelessAndSmart #RealSexTalk #ShamelessCare #StayShameless