Know Your Risk

Not all sex has the same risk. Your risk of picking up or passing on HIV depends on the kind of sex you have, your HIV status, your partner’s HIV status and condom use.  The guys at HIM believe you can have great sex and still reduce your risk by making smart, informed decisions. We’re not going to tell you how to have sex, but we will offer some techniques for reducing the risk associated with the kind of sex you want to have.

HIV SPECTRUM OF RISK

VERY LOW

LOW

MODERATE

HIGH

VERY HIGH

No Risk or Very Low Risk

Kissing / Spit swapping, Hand job / Mutual masturbation, Receiving or Giving oral sex with a condom, Rimming with a dental dam

Low Risk

Receiving oral sex with no condom and no ejaculation in mouth, Giving oral sex with no condom and no ejaculation in mouth, Rimming with no dental dam, Anal sex (topping or bottoming) with a guy with a different or unknown HIV status with a condom

Moderate Risk

Giving oral sex with ejaculation to a guy whose status is unknown or different

High Risk

Anal sex (topping) without a condom with a guy whose status is different or unknown

Very High Risk

Anal sex (bottoming) without a condom with a guy whose status is different or unknown