Adam.Selene@ncar.UCAR.EDU (Adam Selene) (09/14/89)
SAFER SEX WHAT'S IT TO YOU
from THE VOLUNTEER Sept/Oct 1989
Electronic reprint by Utopian Network
With Permission
non Commercial Distribution is encourgaged by the GMHC
SAFER SEX : What's it to YOU ?
by Craig G. Harris
What comes to mind when you hear the term safer sex?
Condoms .. body fluids, dental dams .. on me, no in me ..
all of the above ? So many have talked so much about safer
sex that these have become buzz words. And the more
frequently such terms are used, the more clouded their
meaning becomes.
GMHC people are often asked to clarify of what
constitutes safer sex. The answers don't come easy. The
basics have not changed since the onset of the AIDS
pandemic. Safer sex is sex which doesn't incvolve the
exchange of blood and/or semen. Latex condoms used with a
water-based, water-soluble lubricant (preferably one which
contains nonoxynol-9) provide the best protection against
the transmmission of HIV short of abstinence or a monogamous
long-term relationship with one and onloy one uninfected
partner. But the questions we hear most are not necesarilya
basic in nature. The are more likely to deal with
hypothetical sexual situations.
The problem is complicated by the lack of medical
evidence of concrete risk-free sexual practices. " SAFER SEX
GUIDELINES: A Resource for Educators and Counsellors"
produced by the Canadian AIDS Society states:
"A great many common sexual practices are
neither problem free,nor always dangerous.
There is a lot more gray in safer sex than black or
white. Often we speak about the spectrum of possibility of
HIV transmission. We are not able to provide the assurance
of saying that sexual practices other than frottage and
mutural masturbation are 100% safe. We stopped using the
term safe sex because even intercourse with a latex codom
and proper lubrication have some risk factor due to
possiblemanufacturing defects or user failure.
Terms like "risk" are scary and frustrating when we talk
about life-threatening illnesses. It may be helpful for us
to think about the types of calculated riks we take in other
aspects of our lives and how we arrrive at decisons. Before
taking a long distance road trip, we get a highway manp, set
aside change for the tolls and have a mechanic check the
car.
It is true that every time we engage in sex that
involves penetration, whether it be oral, anal or vaginal,
there is some element of risk faced by both partners. That
need not be frightening, however, if we realize that there
are different degrees of risk, and manyu ways to minimize
risks. We know that unprotected receptive anal sex is the
most efficient means of HIV transmission. We know that
mutual masturbation is a risk-free activity. But what about
all the other points along the spectrum of risk that we call
"possibly safe" or "somewhat risky"
For instance many are concerned about oral sex, a risk
many health care professionals call theoretical. Though few,
if anyh, cases of HIV disease have been traced to
transmission through oral sex, it is possible for infected
semen or pre-cum to enter the blood stream through exposed
oral abrasions. Therefore it is advised that oral sex with
a condom, or licking only the shaft of the penis and the
balls reduces the theoretical risk.
Safer Sex guidelines for persons with HIV disease may
differ from time to time according to their condition. Most
safer sex guidelines were written with a bias toward
protecting the seronegativ epartner from infection by a
potential seropositive partner. Yet some sexual acts which
are relatively low risk may allow for the transmission of
pathogens which can cause infections in a partner who is
immune-suppressed.
Safer sex involves a personal decision making process.
The biggestbarrier to changing unsafe behavior is that many
people's desire for clear-cut answers. Often we can't give
them. All we can do is point out the probability of risk,
impart information about how to minimize those risks, and
provide as much updated medical evidence as possible. But
the choice of how much of a risk you will take is up to you.
You know the basics. You've heard the discussion. Now it's
time for you to decide. What's safer sex to you ?
--
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