Isn't everything sexual risky?

Risk of HIV is not the same for all sex acts. Different activities put us at different levels of risk for getting HIV from a positive partner.

We know that all things being equal:

• (1) Oral sex is less risky than anal sex.
• (2) Anal sex with a condom is less risky than anal sex without a condom.
• (3) Topping without a condom is less risky than bottoming without a condom.

If two people are in a relationship where one partner is HIV negative and one partner is HIV positive, can a healthy sex life exist? Of course! Here’s a handy guide :

• No risk for HIV transmission
  Kissing, mutual masturbation, frottage, massage, water sports, bondage, dirty talk and role play, spanking, wrestling, handjobs
• Very low/low risk for HIV transmission
  Blow jobs (receiving less risky than giving), rimming, topping with a condom, bottoming with a condom, fisting with gloves, flogging, whipping
• Medium risk for HIV transmission
  Topping without a condom, bottoming without a condom but having the top pull out before cumming, fisting as a top without gloves, blood play such as cutting or piercing
• High risk for HIV transmission
  Bottoming without a condom and taking the load, getting fisted without gloves, sharing needles or works during intravenous drug use

Of course, these ranges apply only to HIV, not for other STDs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or hepatitis.

While there are several behaviors that are no risk or low risk for HIV transmission, remember: the most common method of HIV transmission is bottoming without a condom.