Here are some examples of behavior that puts you at particularly high risk for becoming infected with HIV:
Risk 1: Unprotected Sex
Unprotected sex puts you at risk for contracting HIV. Unless you and your partner have both been tested and reviewed your results together, you cannot be certain of his or her status. The risk of contracting HIV via unprotected anal sex is greater than that of unprotected vaginal sex, but both are very high risk.
Risk 2: Not Knowing Your HIV Status
An estimated 6,000 people in Central Texas live with HIV/AIDS. However, another estimated _____amount of people may be HIV positive and don’t know their status. If you are HIV positive but don’t know it, you could be spreading the virus to others, while HIV cells actively replicate in your own body and weaken your immune system. The riskiest thing you can ever do is to remain unaware of your own status. No matter how scary the idea of HIV, ignorance in this case does not lead to bliss.
Risk 3: Needle Sharing
Sharing or reusing needles for intravenous drug use.
Risk 4: Bad Information
For example, some people believe unprotected sex is okay as long as their partner does not “finish.” Wrong! HIV can be transmitted through pre-seminal fluid.
Risk 5: Oral Sex.
Unprotected oral sex, particularly if you have a cut or sore in your mouth, offers an entry into your bloodstream through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, or vaginal fluid. While less common than through anal or vaginal sex, HIV transmission through oral sex is not risk-free.
Risk 6: Multiple Sexual Partners
The more partners you have, the more you risk sexual contact with someone who is HIV positive.