How to Have Safer Sex?

Sex: three letters that make our heart race and let our imaginations soar. In reality, what we imagine when we hear those letters is actually called “sexual relations”, but it’s longer and the law of minimum effort dictates that we stick with the shorter word. 

What do you think of when people say “sex”? 

And when we imagine sex, what do we think about? Kisses, caresses, penetration? Oral sex, orgasm, orgasms (plural)? Surely, all these pleasurable sensations come to mind, which are so intense that many times they don’t leave a place for more serious ideas, such as preventing HIV transmission.

Many ads tell us to “protect or take care of ourselves”, “wear a condom”, but we’re not always willing to listen. Perhaps it would be better if they were more specific. Everything’s easier when there’s a tutorial you can consult. 

That could be this mini guide to safer sex: a tutorial, a series of recommendations that will lead us to stay free of HIV and clarify all these questions still in the air, regarding the way the virus can be transmitted. 

How is HIV transmitted? 

First thing we have to know is that HIV is a virus that is transmitted through very specific means, which are: blood, sexual fluids (genitals) and breastmilk. Nothing else. Neither saliva, sweat, tears, urine, nor feces can transmit the virus. Knowing this, we can assess the actual possibilities of coming into contact with it. 

This way, the highest risk activities to acquire or transmit HIF are those in which sexual fluids (such as semen or vaginal fluids), blood (or breastmilk) are exchanged. The greatest risk exists when these fluids come into contact with the mucous membranes, meaning the soft and moist tissues in the body (such as the mouth, vagina, anus, or male urethra), since these are tissues that can be easily damaged with wounds that cannot be perceived at plain sight. This opens a door for the virus to enter the body. 

If we add to this the vigorous activity of, let’s say, penetration, micro lesions are more probable and, it’s also important to remember that genital fluids may be present before, during and after the orgasm, both in men and women, so it’s not useful, for example to withdraw the penis before ejaculation, since lubricating fluid might have been released long before. As explained by AIDS InfoNet, a communications project that’s been providing reliable information on HIV and AIDS in several languages for 22 years.  

What about oral sex? 

In the case of oral sex, the risk of acquiring HIV is low, but we have to remember that whoever is performing it must not have any lesions on the gums or the rest of the mouth, since the virus could enter through there. 

What’s the solution? 

The best thing to reduce the risk of exchanging fluids is to use a condom, whether for male or female; this last one can be used both for vaginal as well as anal penetration. It’s important to not use both condoms at the same time, neither two male condoms one on top of the other, since this makes them very prone to break. In order to facilitate and make penetration more pleasurable, a water based lubricant always helps. 

An activity that involves less risk but is equally pleasurable can be mutual masturbation. As long as the skin is free of open wounds, it can even come into contact with sexual fluids without exposing yourself to an infection. 

Now that you know which are the higher and lower risk practices for HIV, which one will you try out first? 

At AHF we have free condoms and lubricants. Visit our test center and find out everything about our totally free services.