Next Wednesday is World Aids Day, and with it comes more reminders that we need to keep ourselves safe.
Since I work as a volunteer with sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, I think a lot about HIV and how it can – and just as importantly, can’t – be transmitted. Most people know that it can be transmitted through unprotected sex, but there’s some confusion about other routes, like sharing things like toothbrushes or razors. Are they or aren’t they a risk?
A survey published by the National Aids Trust in 2008 said that one in five people didn’t think that HIV could be passed between a man and a woman if they weren’t using a condom. And one in four people didn’t think that it could be passed between two men having unprotected anal sex. More people thought it could be transmitted through biting – which isn’t a risk – than breastfeeding, which is.
It would probably help if I went through exactly how HIV is transmitted. As a disclaimer, I should point out that I’m not a doctor, and if you want more specific advice, go to the THT website. There are several ways you can contact them, including both phone and email.
So what about specific things – things like sharing a toothbrush? Well, before you pick up someone else’s toothbrush, aren’t you going to rinse it off? Would you notice if there was a lot of blood on it (ie, enough to fulfil number 2 above)? I’ll assume you rinse it off (or you make sure it’s been rinsed by the previous person), in which case any HIV will be gone. And in any case, in number 3, I pointed out that HIV has difficulty surviving outside the body.
Razor? Same thing – surely it would be rinsed by the previous person? And again, it can’t easily survive outside the body.
One of the questions I’ve heard being asked is the chances of transmission through oral sex. First, if they go down on you, it’s almost impossible to get infected. As I said, there’s not enough HIV in saliva to infect you; and even if they’d just brushed their teeth, there almost certainly wouldn’t be the quantity or quality of blood to infect you. And even if there was, how would it get into you?
If you go down on them, there is a slightly increased risk – it’s happened, but rarely. The cum (or vaginal fluid) has to get into you somehow. And since any blood from gums would be coming out, not in, that’s a tall order. Don’t forget, as I said before, saliva kills HIV.
Finally, let’s talk about sex: a condom is the best way to protect yourself against HIV infection (and other STIs, and pregnancy, if you’re female). If you use one, and it stays intact and doesn’t come off, then you won’t get HIV that way.
If you have unprotected sex, then you can get HIV. It doesn’t matter if you’re top or bottom, active or passive, cum or don’t cum. You can get it.
Don’t fret if the condom breaks, comes off or you forgot to use it at all. PEP is a course of medication designed to prevent any HIV that entered the body from infecting you. It’s not a guaranteed block, but it gives you a pretty good chance. It has to be started as soon as possible after unsafe sex or a condom not working – and definitely within 72 hours (3 days).
So while you should be awareof the risks, you should also be aware of what’s not a risk – and that even if something goes wrong, you can do something about it.
hi i saw your comment about being hiv i am scared to death i have hiv it happened in october last year i got tested in jan neg june neg august neg all 4th generation tests and again in september again negative i have a constant mouth infection and high whitte blood count gp cannot give me any answers how long did you test positive and how many tests did you have sorry for asking to many questions but it helps me to chat to people with hiv
Many thanks on your article, it really says some good facts without overdoing it. I understand it can be a lot to drum into people since some just don’t want to listen, are concious they may have it, or may not think its a big deal, but the more people i seem to chat to are positive, and without asking its hard to tell.
Great article, Keep it up.
i was told that all A&E’s carry PEP is this in fact true Ihad a courwe 9 years ago after a condom split wheni was fucking a lad who had an undetectable viral load. I figures better safe than sorry even if the course made me dull for amonht . It did take the shine of fme for a bit but not as bad as being on retrovirals forever
im fed up of reading articles like this , in London and the UK the rate of HIV infection continues to rise and articles like this and certain charities do not help reduce the rise. I would even go so far as to suggest that they are part of the proble, . In releation to appropriate route and quantity. if you have sex with someone with a low viral count or if they transmit a low quantity of infected fluid to you then you run a risk of becoming HIV positive the risk is not zero you cannot guarantee that your bodies defences are sufficient to fight of a low quantity of infected fluid or a low quantity of virus. In relation to the presence of HIV in the other person i find it dissappointing that some people lie or opt not to tell their HIV status to a potential sexual partner.This is obvious from certain profiles of gay websites . For every person these people infect they should recieve a prison term. If you are reading this then please be aware that there are dishonest people online more interested in sexual gratification than your health. This issue of razors and toothbrushes is a diversion. Are you so poor that you cant afford your own razor and toothbrush ? try a 99p store or your local chemist sells a bag of 10 disposable razors for 99p. Why on earth would you forget to put on a condom ? how can having sex with someone be so urgent and pressing that it cant wait for you to find a condom although you should be aware that condoms are not 100% protection. Remember its your life, HIV is rising in the UK so think before you act as you are risking your life and those of others
Errr.. why are you writing this. There is more than enough excellent information without having to cut and paste it into a blog.
And what about other sexually transmitted diseases. And what about hep C?
As a teacher would say, a good start, but needs improvement.
It’s not my name to express my confusion, though that some message has reached me once-on of my friends- to be infected by sputum of another persons, being infected by syfilis-after later investigattion and diagnosis.
Since a couple of years, it is not only my question to have been tested on HIV, or to get safe sex together (by using a condom), but indeed also, to have being informed by other conditions about my partner’s body welness and fitness.
Itis true, not to be bothered myself either to get alll this stuff (information) passed to each other, and I do recognize my liability to my sex partner, and I recon to got that too by him.
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Contact sports is a potential risk for transmitting HIV, there is a reason why profession boxing, and MMA events require HIV testing for all competitors and never has an HIV pos. person been allowed to compete in these professional sporting events. There are lots of things left out on this blog, it isn’t very impressive at all – a rare but well known cause of transmission is if infected semen or blood accidentally goes into your eyes – many doctors and nurses and especially dentists have been infected in this way – if a squirt of blood goes in their eyes by mistake. Also guys cumming on someone’s face – is very risky, the semen can infect through the eyes.
HIV is a weird and strange virus, there is a lot of conspiracy in the world behind HIV transmission facts and even treatments, and HIV medications which prolong your life but cost a lot of money – are also part of the conspiracy to keep the virus alive and spreading. Think about it – the disease fuels a large medical system in western countries and in poorer places gets rid of unwanted population….I don’t think anyone really knows all the facts about HIV and even those who do know it – will never talk about it!!!
Most of the negative replies to this blog are from people who actually need to be informed. The contact sports ban was introduced at the height of the scares around HIV. Of course a sport like boxing where blood is liberally splashed about and importantly rubbed into wounds is going to require precautions. That does not devalue his comments small amounts and the need for active injection. Similarly the dentist/doctor scares. You will note that that the ban on HIV+ medical staff doing invasive work has now been lifted. It is correct that the eyes are a transmission route but, if like myself you are positive, you’ll know how ‘suited and booted’ dentists and others are when they work on you. Scares about sterilizing tool was, like knat bites and toilet seats, products of hostile newspapers and the fearfully uninformed. Tools are required to be sterilized in autoclaves or disposable. Fear and ignorance are the enemies here. Any help in informing people is worth while; he is making an effort to be a positive in life. Are you? Knowledge kills fear. Live your life don’t cower away from it.
Good stuff – I’m HIV and get these Qs a lot cos I’m open about my status. One thing though… if condom bursts DO worry. Bit of a panic is a good thing if it gets you straight to clinic for PEP! Most irritating phrase I hear these days is ‘Oh HIV’s no big deal any more’: believe me – try it and you won’t think so…