Strategic Positioning: Top or Bottom?

Some HIV-negative men think it’s safe for them to have condomless anal sex, even with a partner who is HIV positive, as long as they are the one topping (the penetrative partner). Similarly, many HIV-positive men think they can have condomless anal sex, as long as they are the receptive partner or bottom. But whatever position you assume (and many assume both), anal sex without condoms is a high risk for picking up or passing on HIV.

Being a top is NOT a reliable technique to avoid getting HIV during condomless anal sex. It reduces your risk of picking up HIV, but still remains risky because HIV can enter the body through the tip of the penis and possibly the porous cells of the foreskin.