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HIV: Risks of Sexual Contact

Topic Overview

During vaginal, oral, or anal sex, the receiving partner has the higher risk of getting infected with HIV. Men who allow other men to perform anal sex on them have the highest risk. The inserting male partner has a lower risk, but the risk increases if he is uncircumcised. Women who have vaginal or anal sex with infected men also have a risk of getting HIV. The risk decreases with the use of condoms.

HIV also can be transmitted through small sores in the mouth or bleeding gums during oral sex.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
Last Revised April 5, 2012

Last Revised: April 5, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine

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