Fact Sheet Number 151
- HOW DOES HIV SPREAD DURING SEX?
- HOW RISKY IS IT?
- WHAT IF BOTH PEOPLE ARE ALREADY INFECTED?
- SET YOUR LIMITS
- THE BOTTOM LINE
|
this Fact Sheet on a single page using: |
|
|
|
|
|
More information on Downloading & Printing Fact Sheets |
|
PrintDURING SEX?
To spread HIV during sex, HIV infection in blood or
sexual fluids must be transmitted to someone. Sexual
fluids come from a man’s penis or from a woman’s vagina, before,
during, or after orgasm. HIV can be transmitted when infected
fluid gets into someone’s body.
You can’t spread HIV if there is no HIV infection. If
you and your partners are not infected with HIV, there is no risk.
If there is no contact with blood or sexual fluids,
there is no risk. HIV needs to get into the body for infection
to occur.
Safer sex guidelines are ways to reduce the risk of spreading
HIV during sexual activity.
Safe activities have no risk for spreading HIV.
Abstinence (never having sex) is totally safe. Sex with just one
partner is safe as long as neither one of you is infected and
if neither one of you ever has sex with anyone else.
Fantasy, masturbation or hand jobs (where you keep your fluids
to yourself), sexy talk, and non-sexual massage are also safe.
These activities avoid contact with blood or sexual fluids, so
there is no risk of transmitting HIV.
To be safe, assume that your sex partners are infected with
HIV. You can’t tell if people are infected by how they look.
They could be lying if they tell you they are not infected, especially
if they want to have sex with you. Some people got HIV from their
steady partners who were unfaithful “just once”.
Even people who got a negative test result might be infected.
They might have been infected after they got tested, or they might
have gotten the test too soon after they were exposed to HIV.
Fact Sheet 102 has more
information on HIV testing.
Unsafe Activities: Unsafe sex has a high risk
of spreading HIV. The greatest risk is when blood or sexual fluid
touches the soft, moist areas (mucous membrane) inside the rectum,
vagina, mouth, nose, or at the tip of the penis. These can be
damaged easily, which gives HIV a way to get into the body.
Vaginal or rectal intercourse without protection is very unsafe.
Sexual fluids enter the body, and wherever a man’s penis is inserted,
it can cause small tears that make HIV infection more likely.
The receptive partner is more likely to be infected, although
HIV might be able to enter the penis, especially if it has contact
with HIV-infected blood or vaginal fluids for a long time or if
it has any open sores.
Safer Activities: Most sexual activity carries
some risk of spreading HIV. To reduce the risk, make it more difficult
for blood or sexual fluid to get into your body.
Be aware of your body and your partner’s. Cuts, sores,
or bleeding gums increase the risk of spreading HIV. Rough physical
activity also increases the risk. Even small injuries give HIV
a way to get into the body.
Use a barrier to prevent contact with blood or sexual
fluid. Remember that the body’s natural barrier is the skin. If
you don’t have any cuts or sores, your skin will protect you against
infection. However, in rare cases HIV can get into the body through
healthy mucous membranes. The risk of infection is much higher
if the membranes are damaged.
The most common artificial barrier is a condom for men. You
can also use a female condom to protect the vagina or rectum during
intercourse. Fact Sheet 152 has
more information on condoms.
Lubricants can increase sexual stimulation. They also
reduce the chance that condoms or other barriers will break. Oil-based
lubricants like Vaseline, oils, or creams can damage condoms and
other latex barriers. Be sure to use water-based lubricants.
Oral sex has some risk of transmitting HIV, especially
if sexual fluids get in the mouth and if there are bleeding gums
or sores in the mouth. Pieces of latex or plastic wrap over the
vagina, or condoms over the penis, can be used as barriers during
oral sex. Condoms without lubricants are best for oral sex. Most
lubricants taste awful.
ARE ALREADY INFECTED?
Some people who are HIV-infected don’t see the need to follow
safer sex guidelines when they are sexual with other infected
people. However, it still makes sense to “play safe”.
If you don’t, you could be exposed to infections such as herpes
or syphilis. If you already have HIV, these diseases can be more
serious.
Also, you might get “re-infected” with a different
strain of HIV. This new version of HIV might not be controlled
by the medications you are taking. It might also be resistant
to other HIV antiviral drugs. There is no way of knowing how
risky it is for two HIV-positive people to have unsafe sex. Following
the guidelines for safer sex will reduce the risk.
Decide how much risk you are willing to take. Know how much protection
you want to use during different kinds of sexual activities. Before
you have sex,
- think about safer sex
- set your limits
- get a supply of lubricant and condoms or other barriers,
and be sure they are easy to find when you need them
- talk to your partners so they know your limits.
Stick to your limits. Don’t let alcohol or drugs or an
attractive partner make you forget to protect yourself.
HIV infection can occur during sexual activity. Sex is safe only
if there is no HIV, no blood or sexual fluids, or no way for HIV
to get into the body.
You can reduce the risk of infection if you avoid unsafe activities
or if you use barriers like condoms. Decide on your limits and
stick to them.
Reviewed August 7, 2002
Goto InfoNet Main Page
Go toIndex of Fact Sheets
Clickhere if you have questions
New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center
and the New Mexico Department of Health