Lukas Gage is opening up about how being cheated on changed the way he approaches his sexual health.
The “White Lotus” star got candid in a sit-down with The Post about the time a partner gave him not one but two sexually transmitted infections — despite their exclusive status.
“It was a double whammy,” Gage, 30, said. “It wasn’t that I was in an opposition to having a monogamous relationship, it was just not talked about.”
Now, the “Companion” actor is on a mission to break sexual health taboos with his debut memoir, “I Wrote This for Attention,” set for release October 14.
In the book, Gage dives deep into that experience — along with his upbringing in a “broken” family, rise to stardom, and struggles with sex, addiction and mental health.
“This book is raw, provocative, chaotic, and — dare I say — slutty,” said “It Ends with Us” author Colleen Hoover.
Double trouble down under
Gage has always been proactive about his health — whether it’s working out, eating right or going to therapy.
When he was single, he regularly got tested for STIs. But that habit fell off once he thought he entered a monogamous relationship.
So it came as “a surprise” when he started having symptoms below the belt that could only have come from his partner.
“It really kind of freaked me out and sent me into a spiral,” the “Euphoria” actor said.
When Gage confronted his partner, he denied stepping out of the relationship and passing on an STI.
“He was very much sticking to the lie, until I went to the doctor who laughed at me as soon as I pulled down my pants and said, ‘That’s an STD,’” Gage said.
Turns out, he’d actually caught two infections.
Fortunately, both were treatable. But the experience taught Gage to “do anything I can to protect myself, whether or not I’m in a relationship.”
“That certain situation really was the thing that pushed me into being extra cautious,” he said. “Since then, even regardless of the status of the relationship, I’ve been consistent with the three month rule.”
Experts recommend STI testing every three to six months for anyone with new or multiple partners. But Gage suggested that even people in monogamous relationships should get tested every now and then.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re single, in a relationship, somewhere in between,” he said. “I think having that awareness and that protection, that knowledge, is the way that we don’t have to live in fear and have anxiety.”
Gage’s daily dose of defense
Along with getting tested regularly, the star now takes PrEP every day, incorporating it into his morning routine alongside a cup of coffee, vitamins and a workout.
PrEP — short for pre-exposure prophylaxis — is a medication that slashes the risk of contracting HIV by stopping the virus from taking hold in the body if exposed.
Anyone who is sexually active without HIV can use PrEP, but the CDC especially recommends it for those who’ve had anal or vaginal sex in the last six months and:
- Have a sexual partner with HIV
- Have multiple sexual partners
- Don’t consistently use condoms
- Have been diagnosed with an STI in the past six months
“It’s helped me to just not have to spin out and be so fearful,” said Gage, who has partnered with Gilead to promote the company’s HealthySexual campaign, which aims to raise awareness about HIV testing and PrEP.
When taken as prescribed, PrEP cuts the risk of getting HIV through sex by about 99%. And yet, just 36% of people who could benefit from the drug are prescribed it, according to the CDC.
“The misconception with PrEP is if you take it, that means that you’re reckless with yourself, with your sex life, and it’s a free for all — and I don’t think that’s true. I think it’s just the opposite,” Gage said.
“I think it’s being cautious and careful and feeling like I have ownership,” the “Smile 2” actor said.
Looking back on his own STI scare, Gage said being transparent about sexual health is crucial — even when you mess up.
“No one’s perfect. People make mistakes. I’ve been the person who was the cheater too,” he admitted.
“I think the most important thing to do would be to be honest about it and be forthcoming,” Gage said, calling that “the sexiest thing in the world.”
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