(c) by SPOT 25 and AHS Switzerland

The 6
most Frequently
Asked Questions
(FAQ's) about
HIV + AIDS
(c) by SPOT 25 and AHS Switzerland
Can one become infected by a single act of unprotected sex?

Yes, as soon as the mucous membrane on the end of the penis or in the anus comes into contact with the semen or blood of an HIV positive person, infection is absolutely possible. The more often this happens, whether active or passive in sex, the higher the possibility that one will become infected with HIV. To eliminate the risks of infection, you must wear a condom during each sexual contact.

I want to practice safe sex, but my partner doesn't want to. What should I do?

You should not give up your demands for safe sex. Tell your partner at the beginning that you will only fuck with condoms. Don't wait until the middle of the act, when you have lost some of your senses, as this decision is for the health of you and your partner. Young men "coming out" have it especially difficult to stand by their demands to use condoms in situations with more sexually experienced men. If you can't convince your partner, then you can always say "No" . Admit to your fears of an infection! Trust your feelings! Sometimes you will need courage and self-confidence to force the use of a condom.

Is there a risk of infection during oral sex?

As long as no semen enters the mouth, oral sex is considered safe sex. The pre-cum would contain HIV cells in an infected person, but the concentration is thought to be so small that the risk of infection is unlikely / minimal. There is no 100% guarantee, however. If you want to be absolutely safe, then you should use a condom during oral sex. Give each other warning before orgasm to ensure that no semen enters the mouth of the person "blowing". If someone does come in your mouth, then spit it out and rinse your mouth a few times with warm water. Don't swallow the semen!

Is there a risk of infection while in a long-term relationship with someone?

Yes. Studies have shown that many new infections occur between men in a long-term relationship. In many gay relationships, "affairs" can occur - both planned and unplanned. It is often difficult to speak with the partner about these "affairs". Honest communication is absolutely necessary wherever unsafe sex comes into play. An HIV negative antibody test is also a requirement in a relationship where unprotected sex is to take place.

After an HIV negative antibody test, we've decided to have unprotected sex in a serious relationship with each other. Now I'm unsure as to whether my partner will have any unsafe "affairs". What shall I do?

Many couples have agreements and try to stay in compliance with these agreements. A requirement for such agreements is that in cases of unsafe contacts outside the relationship, the other partner is informed. Trust your intuition. Ask your partner about unprotected sex outside of the relationship, even if you would rather speak with him about other things. Discuss with each other how you can deal with your anxieties about an HIV infection. Maybe you will decide to practice safe sex again.

Is safe sex really necessary now that there are so many good AIDS medicines?

Yes. Safe sex is just as necessary now as it was before the discovery of the medicines we have today. Even when HIV positive men take medications, they are still infectious. AIDS cannot be cured. Only the outbreak of the associated diseases can be delayed, and the side-effects of the various medicines can be very unpleasant. The medicines have been shown to have long-term damaging effects on some organs such as the liver and kidneys. We also don't know if medicine-resistant strains of the virus will mutate over the longer term.

Therefore for you in the future:
Fuck only with a condom and recommended lubricant, and don't get any semen in your mouth.