HIV
Protecting Yourself
HIV does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of: sexuality; gender; race; ability; age; etc. You cannot tell who has got HIV simply from looking at them.
It is vitally important, therefore, for everyone to practice Safer Sex and safer drug use. Safer Sex involves reducing the risk of infections through using barrier contraception (i.e. condoms or femidoms) and water-based lubricant. Or having sex which does not involves the penis penetrating the vagina or anus. Safer Sex is also important in preventing pregnancy and other sexually transmitted infections.
Oral sex only becomes risky if the person doing the sucking has cuts, sores or bleeding gums in their mouths. This could be made safer by not getting semen (cum) in your mouth, or by using a condom.
Sex toys such as vibrators and dildos should be cleaned thoroughly between partners, or covered by a fresh condom each time.
Safer drug use means not sharing any injecting equipment at all. This includes filters, spoons, water, etc. There are many needle exchange programmes around the country where clean needles can be obtained. Needles should also be disposed of safely after use (in a sharps bin or crushed tin can). Safer drug use also means being aware of how certain mood-altering drugs (including alcohol!) can affect behaviours, such as possibly making the practise of Safer Sex less likely.
Remember that saliva, sweat and urine do not contain enough HIV to infect someone.