Home

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis

Safe Sex

Drug Use & HIV

Contact Us

Make a Donation

SEXY TRAFFIC SIGNALS ... how risky is that?

Some activities have more risk of transmitting HIV than others.

Before you start your engines, find out what could definitely put you at risk, what's under debate, and what can have you revving for hours with no problem at all. Rrrrrrrrrr...

(Remember : In order to transmit HIV, one person's blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk must get into another person's bloodstream, either directly or through a mucous membrane. Check out the transmission page for more details.)

YELLOW LIGHT — how much do you want to risk?

This group of activities could be risky because one of the four fluids is present and it can come into contact with the bloodstream. There aren't many people who contracted HIV through these activities, but the chances do go up with certain conditions.

• Oral sex on a man without a condom
  Higher risk: ejaculation in the mouth (doesn't matter if you spit or swallow), especially if it has cuts, canker sores, cold sores, recent dental work, tiny tears from very recently brushed teeth or orthodontic braces...
• Oral sex on a woman without a dental dam (latex square)
  Higher risk: during menstruation or if the mouth has cuts, canker sores, cold sores, recent dental work, tiny tears from very recently brushed teeth or orthodontic braces...
• Injection, tattooing, or piercing with a clean used needle, syringe, etc.
  Cleaning with water, then bleach, then water kills many germs, including HIV, but this can't guarantee that everything's gone. Regardless, it is far more effective than cleaning with water alone or sharing without cleaning at all.
• Vaginal or anal sex with a condom
  This is only included because there is a chance the condom could break. An intact latex barrier doesn’t allow anything through it, so there is no need to worry if your condom stays in place. You reduce the chance of breakage if you squeeze an air space at the tip to make room for ejaculation and slather on some water based lube. This is much better than oil based, which eats latex, and no lube at all, because friction can wear the condom down and the slipperiness makes it more fun.