How HIV is prevented

The risk of getting or passing on HIV can be dramatically reduced by:

• using a condom and water-based lubricant for fucking
• using a latex glove for fisting
• keeping cum out of your mouth or your partner's mouth during oral sex

The advice used to be that thicker condoms were needed for anal sex and some men still prefer to use these. But studies show regular condoms that straight people use are just as safe for gay and bisexual men to use for anal sex. So regular thickness rubbers are now often given to gay men. If you still prefer to use thicker condoms here are examples of ones you could look for:

• Mates Super Strong
• Durex Ultra Strong
• Boys Own
• HT Specials
• Safeguard Forte.

If you decide to use condoms for oral sex, flavoured ones won't taste of rubber.

You can find out more about condoms on this website.
www.chapsonline.org.uk/getiton

Water-based lubricant

Using a lubricant makes it less likely that condoms will break. However, oil-based lubricants destroy rubber, making latex condoms and gloves split. This means that condoms and gloves don't mix well with oil-based lubricants like massage and baby oil, suntan lotion, skin cream, Vaseline or food products containing oil.

Instead, use water-based lubricants like:

• KY Jelly
• Liquid Silk
• Wetstuff.

If fisting and looking for a lube that's not oil-based, there's J-Lube or Lubrifist. Crisco, which is often used by fisters, is oil-based and will weaken condoms and gloves.

You can find out more about lube on this website.

PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis)

If a condom breaks or you have unsafe sex, PEP is a month-long course of anti-HIV pills that can make it less likely that someone will get HIV. But PEP must be started very quickly - within 72 hours (three days) after running a risk. And the sooner it's started, the more chance it'll work (within 24 hours is best).

PEP can have unpleasant side-effects, is not guaranteed to work and can be difficult to get. It's available from GUM clinics or hospital Accident and Emergency departments.

PEP is not a 'morning-after pill'. You have to take it for four weeks for it to have a chance of working. And PEP is no substitute for condoms. Unlike PEP, condoms are cheap, easy to find, only need to be used during sex, have no side-effects and are very effective at stopping HIV.

For more about PEP check out www.chapsonline.org.uk/pep or call THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200. Both can help you decide if it's worth thinking about asking for PEP.