Sex and staying safe

What is safer sex?

In terms of protection against HIV, a simple way of understanding safer sex is to see it as any sex that does not allow an infected partner’s blood, semen, or fluid from the vagina to get inside the other partner’s body. Some kinds of sex such as kissing or masturbation carry no risk of HIV.

What are the riskiest kinds of sex?

Vaginal and anal sex without a condom carry the highest risk. HIV can be passed on to either partner – male or female during penetrative sex (where the penis enters the vagina, anus or mouth) without a condom.

How safe is oral sex?

Oral sex is where one partner uses their tongue or mouth to stimulate their partner’s genitals. There is a very small risk of infection through oral sex, but it is less risky than vaginal or anal sex without a condom.

You can reduce this risk by doing the following:

• Avoid getting semen in your mouth, particularly if you have any cuts, sores or ulcers in your mouth
• Use a condom for oral sex with a man
• Use a dental dam (a latex square) for oral sex with a woman. Hold the dental dam over the woman’s genital area to protect you against infection from vaginal fluid and menstrual blood. They are not widely available but you may be able to get them from some clinics, chemists, shops and some mail-order agencies. Call the National AIDS Helpline for details on freephone 0800 567 123.