Safer Sex ·
If used properly, condoms can stop you passing on HIV to others or becoming reinfected with another strain of HIV. They also reduce the risk of catching other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Remember that even if you are using condoms for anal sex, you can still catch STIs such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis A and B, because these can be passed on through oral sex, rimming or other sexual activities.
Apart from the risk of STIs, unprotected anal or vaginal sex with another HIV positive person may pose a risk of reinfection (superinfection) with a different strain of HIV. Cases have been reported where people with HIV have been infected with a different strain of the virus that has been resistant to anti-HIV drugs. Research has shown that standard strength condoms are just as safe as extra strong condoms for anal sex. Using two condoms (double-bagging) is less safe than using one. So is putting lube inside the condom.
Plenty of water-based (or silicone-based) lube should be used and, if you’re having sex for more than 45 minutes, it’s safer to change condoms. The lubes to avoid are the oil-based ones like Crisco, as they weaken the rubber in condoms.
Free condoms are available in many gay venues in Scotland and are also available free by post from Healthy Gay Scotland
Having an undetectable viral load (see HIV Health Info) does not mean you cannot pass on HIV to other people. It seems less likely that you would be able to infect others, but an undetectable viral load in your blood does not necessarily mean a low viral load in semen. Having another STI may increase the viral load in your semen and make you more infectious. There is also evidence to suggest that levels of HIV in rectal mucosa secretions is higher than it is in blood, and this would suggest that unprotected anal intercourse may expose the insertive partner to higher levels of HIV exposure than previously thought.
There could be serious legal consequences if you have unprotected sex with someone without telling them you have HIV, and end up infecting them: see the section on HIV and the Law.
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