How safe is oral sex?Īlthough it is possible to become infected with HIV through oral sex, the risk of becoming infected in this way is much lower than the risk of infection via unprotected sexual intercourse with a man or woman. Stigma and homophobia can affect a person's ability to access information about safer sex specifically for gay men. Overall, the gay male population in Canada has higher rates of HIV infection than some other populations. Being gay does not necessarily mean you are at higher risk, but certain activities gay men sometimes participate in might put them at greater risk.
Is it true that gay men are more at risk for HIV than other people?Īlthough anyone can be at risk for HIV, some people can be more at risk depending upon the types of sexual practices and drug use they are engaging in. Both partners in a discordant sexual relationship should take on the responsibility of protecting one another from HIV infection. However, this risk can be greatly reduced with the use of condoms during vaginal, anal and oral sex.
There is a risk of HIV transmission if the discordant couple has unprotected sex. Can I become infected if my partner has HIV?Ī partnership where one person is infected with HIV and the other is not can be described as a sero-discordant (or discordant) relationship.
