Reducing
the Risk of Getting HIV From Sexual Activities
The most general way in which
we can define "safe" sex is the following:
Any sexual practice that
does not let someone else's semen, blood, or vaginal fluids get into someone
else's body. The parts of the body where HIV could enter the bloodstream
are the anus and rectum, the vagina, the penis, the mouth, and the eyes.
These body parts must be protected from contact with HIV-infected fluids.HIV
cannot go through the skin unless there are open sores or bleeding cuts.
Safer sex often involves use of latex condoms, latex dental dams, plastic
wrap, latex gloves and finger cots as barriers between the infectious fluids
and mucous membranes or open cuts.
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