HIV can be transmitted from an HIV+ person to an HIV- person in a number of ways:

• through the exchange of infected blood
• from a mother to child through breast feeding
• through the exchange of vaginal fluids, anal mucus or semen

Safe Sex is any sexual behaviour that avoids any of the above risk factors, and it’s really simple to do:

Using condoms and water-based lube every time when fucking will prevent HIV transmission.

That’s the basic safe-sex message, but there’s more to sex than fucking, and many people are uncertain about the risks involved in other sexual practices. There are also many STIs besides HIV to be wary of. Below is a list of some practices which leave some people uncertain, and some guidelines about minimising any risks involved. At the end of this page is a list of links to reputable LGBT appropriate helath web-sites.

Oral Sex: Whether receptive (sucking or being licked out) or insertive (being sucked or licking out), oral sex is considered a low risk practice. The mouth is a hostile environment for HIV and so long as there are no cuts or lesions in the mouth or throat, it is very unlikely that HIV will be transmitted through oral sex. However, tiny cuts in the mouth increase the risks of transmission so tooth brushing prior to oral sex is not recommended. Avoiding getting semen in the mouth will also reduce the risk. If semen does get in the mouth, swallowing is safer than spitting as swallowing avoids swirling the semen back through the mouth, and HIV can not survive in the acidic environment of the stomach. Remember that oral sex can transmit other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphyllis or herpes. Oral sex using condoms or dental dams will prevent HIV transmission as well as transmission of most other STIs.

Fisting: Putting your hand or fingers into someone’s arse or vagina is considered a low risk practice for transmission of HIV if there are no cuts or abrasions on the hand or fingers. Vaginal fluids and anal mucus can contain HIV, but if the inserted hand or finger has no breaks in the skin, there is no opportunity for the virus to enter the blood stream of the inserting partner. Wearing latex gloves and water-based lube for fisting or fingering will minimise any risk. Remember that fisting without gloves also poses a risk for the transmission of Hepatitis C.

Topping: Being the active, or insertive, partner when fucking does not protect you from HIV. The skin of the penis, especially under the foreskin and inside the ‘eye’ is extremely thin and can suffer micro tears during sex. These tears provide a route by which HIV can move from the anal mucus or vaginal fluids of the ‘bottom’ into the bloodstream of the ‘top’. Topping without wearing a condom also puts your partner at risk of infection with an STI (which you may not know you have) from you. Always using condoms and water-based lube when fucking will prevent HIV transmission.

Hot Tip Spot

STIs and HIV

Did you know that having a sexually transmissible infection (STI) increases your chances of contracting or passing on HIV by up to ten times? It’s true!

This is the case for a number of reasons but there are two main ones; increased immune cells at the sites of infection and sores. HIV replicates in CD4 cells in your blood. These cells are an important part of your immune system and are also the natural ‘home’ of HIV. When you have an STI the concentration of these cells at the site of infection increases as your body tries to fight the infection. Unfortunately this also provides many more targets for HIV to get a hold in your system should you be exposed to it, increasing your chance of becoming HIV positive. STIs also usually cause some damage to skin or mucus membranes in or around the genitals. This damage can provide a route for HIV to enter your bloodstream if you are exposed to it.

To reduce your risk of picking up or passing on HIV always use condoms and lube for anal sex, and get into the routine of having a thorough sexual health check-up at least every six months (or more often if you have a lot of sex partners). Look after yourself and your mates!

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