The Friends of AIDS Foundation / Topics / Making Sex Safer

MAKING SEX SAFER

Sexual activity is a risk for HIV transmission because it allows for the exchange of body fluids. Some
sexual practices put you at a higher risk of HIV transmission than others.

We believe everyone, regardless of their HIV status, should enjoy a healthy sex life. The smallest
bit of misunderstanding about how HIV is spread can lead to a lot of confusion when it comes to
making important decisions about safer sex.

Abstinence is the only 100-percent way to avoid HIV.

If you have a partner who is HIV negative, does not inject drugs and is having sexual contact
only with you, the risk of being infected with the virus is minimal.

Being infected with a sexually transmitted infection can increase an HIV-positive person's
chance of transmitting HIV, just as it can increase an HIV-negative person's chance of
acquiring HIV.

An HIV-positive person with a detectable viral load is more likely to transmit the virus to
somebody else-than an HIV-positive person who is receiving antiretroviral treatment and has
an undetectable viral load.

Safer sex practices, including correct and consistent use of condoms for sex, can reduce the
spread of HIV.

Using drugs or alcohol can impair judgment and cause people to forget to take care of
themselves-or their sexual partners.

The following are several guidelines you can use to decrease your risk of HIV infection through
sexual contact.

SAFE
These are considered safe when there is not sharing of semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Touching, massaging, hugging
Masturbation, alone or with someone else
Rubbing bodies together
Dry kissing on the mouth
Kissing or licking the body if the skin is clean, there are no open sores or mouth contact with
genitals
Talking about fantasies

PROBABLY SAFE
These are considered probably safe when there is not sharing of semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Vaginal intercourse with a condom
Oral sex on a man with a condom on the penis
Oral sex on a woman with a latex barrier over the vulva
Anal intercourse with a condom
Wet kissing with no sores or cuts in either person's mouth

In order to be safe, condoms must be properly used, and may not slip or break. The risk of
condom failure makes these activities probably safe rather than safe.

UNSAFE
These are considered unsafe because there is a sharing of semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Vaginal intercourse without a condom
Anal intercourse without a condom
Oral sex without a condom
Any sex with a condom that slips, leaks, or breaks
Sharing objects put into the anus or vagina
Any activity that allows blood to blood contact or allows blood contact with the mouth, vagina,
anus, or broken skin.

ORAL SEX
Oral sex is considered to be less of a risk for HIV transmission than other activities, such as
unprotected anal or vaginal sex. While this is probably true, it is recommended that condoms always
be used during oral sex.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Body fluids such as feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, and vomit are not
considered risky unless they contain visible blood.
Breast milk has transmitted HIV from mother to child. Breast feeding is not recommended for
HIV positive mothers.
Saliva, which has been thoroughly studied, has never been shown to transmit the HIV virus.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some things that you can say when your partner doesn't want to use a condom.

“It doesn't feel good”

I've got moves rubbers can't stop.

The safer I feel the wilder I get.

I have a variety of condoms, let's experiment.

“It ruins the mood”

Come here, I'll change your mood.

Don't we create the mood?

Maybe we're just not ready for this.

“They don't fit”

If it's too big for a condom, it's too big for me.

Duh, they stretch.

Safety's the best fit for me.

“You worried about catching something?”

Yeah, but wearing condoms helps take away the worry.

Aren't you?

It's not that, I always use condoms.