Levels of Risk

HIV and STI Risk Continuum - Nancy Brown, Senior Research Associate, 1997

No Risk (Activities that do not include an exchange of bodily fluids.)

• Holding/hugging
  
• Dry kissing
  
• Masturbation (alone)
  
• Petting
  
• Foreplay (without bodily fluid exchange)

Probably Safe (Barrier protected activities, or very little bodily fluid contact.)

• French/deep kissing
  
• Mutual masturbation, with a barrier to prevent fluid exchange
  
• Oral sex with a condom, dam or plastic wrap
  
• Analingus (rimming, butt licking) with a dam or plastic wrap
  
• Vaginal intercourse with a condom
  
• Anal intercourse with a condom

Risky (Activities during which exchange of bodily fluids might create some danger of transmitting HIV.)

• Vaginal sex, without a condom, with a monogamous partner who tested negative for HIV
  
• Anal sex, without a condom, with a monogamous partner who tested negative for HIV
  
• Vaginal sex with a needle user using a condom

High Risk (Unprotected intercourse without a barrier.)

• Oral sex with fluid exchange (no barrier)
  
• Oral sex without a barrier, with a partner who tested positive for HIV
  
• Oral sex, without a barrier, with a prostitute
  
• Vaginal intercourse without a condom
  
• Vaginal sex, without a condom, with a partner whose sexual history you do not know
  
• Vaginal sex, without a condom, with a man who has sex with men
  
• Vaginal sex without a condom, with a partner who has had sex with an IV drug user
  
• Anal intercourse without a condom
  
• Analingus (rimming, butt licking) without a dam or plastic wrap

I can choose to be safe!

I can choose not to have sex. I can choose only to have safer sex and always use a condom correctly. I can choose to say no to alcohol and other drugs. I can talk to my partner about sex and HIV.

Remember it's not who you are that puts you at risk for HIV, it's what you do.

The above material is taken from “A teen’s guide to HIV and AIDS.” Copyright 1995 Journeyworks Publishing. All rights reserved. Please do not duplicate or reproduce by electronic or any other means without express permission from the publisher.
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