#1: Most sexual activity carries a certain amount of risk of spreading HIV. To reduce this risk, people should ensure that blood or sexual fluid does not get into their body. Cuts, sores, or bleeding gums increase the risk of spreading HIV. Rough physical activity also increases the risk. Even small injuries provide an opportunity for HIV to get into the body.
#2: Use a barrier to prevent contact with blood or sexual fluid. Remember that the body's natural barrier is the skin. An intact or unbroken skin is sufficient barrier. If you don't have any cuts or sores, your skin will protect you against infection. However, in rare cases HIV can get into the body through healthy mucous membranes. The risk of infection is much higher if the membranes are damaged. The most common artificial barrier is the male and female condom.
#3: Lubricants can increase sexual stimulation hence sexual pleasure. They also reduce the chances of condoms or other barriers breaking. Oil-based lubricants such as Vaseline, oils, or creams can damage condoms and other latex barriers. Be sure to use water-based lubricants.
#4: Oral sex has some risk of transmitting HIV, especially if sexual fluids get in the mouth and if there are bleeding gums or sores in the mouth. Pieces of latex or plastic wrap over the vagina, or condoms over the penis, can be used as barriers during oral sex.
#5: Safe sexual activities have no risk for spreading HIV. Abstinence (never having sex) is totally safe. Sex with just one partner is safe as long as neither one of the partners is infected and if neither one of the partners ever has sex or shares needles with anyone else.
#6: Fantasy, masturbation, or hand jobs (where your body fluids are kept to yourself), sexy talk, and non-sexual massage are also safe. These activities avoid contact with blood or sexual fluids of other people; therefore there is no risk of transmitting HIV.
#7: To be safe, everybody must assume that their sex partners are infected with HIV. How can anybody tell if someone is infected by how they look? They could be lying if they tell you they are not infected, especially if they want to have sex with you. Some people got infected from their steady partners who were unfaithful "just once". Even someone who got a negative test result might be infected. They might have been infected after they got tested for HIV, or they might have gotten the test too soon after they were exposed to the virus.
#8: Some people who are infected with HIV don't see the need to follow safer sex guidelines when they indulge in sexual activity with other infected people. However, it still makes sense to "play safe". If you don't, you could be exposed to other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes or syphilis. If you already have HIV, these diseases can be more much more serious. You might get "re-infected" with a different strain of HIV. The new version of HIV might not be responsive to the medications you are taking. It might also be resistant to other antiretroviral drugs. It is not clear how risky it is for two HIV-positive people to have unsafe sex. However, following the steps for safer sex will reduce the risk.
#9: Using alcohol or drugs before or during sex greatly increases the chances of disregarding safer sex guidelines. People must be very careful if they have used any alcohol or drugs.
#10: Decide how much risk you are willing to take. Know how much protection you want to use during different kinds of sexual activities. Before you have sex, think about safer sex, talk to your partner about your stand, and don’t let alcohol or drugs or an attractive partner cheat you or make you forget to protect yourself.