low risk activity
Mar 12, 2001
hello you say that mutual masterbation is low risk,if a woman is materbating a male and secretions come into contact with his penis ,why is it low risk, what makes this activity low risk, what are the factors involved, whats the difference between this and vaginal sex if youre coming into contact with fluid in both instances, what makes mutual masterbation a low risk activity.
Response from Mr. Kull
Your question highlights the limitations of language when educating people about HIV. Using categories for defining sexual behavior is necessary and useful when discussing a person's risk for infection, but having a having a basic understanding for the mechanics of transmission is most useful. Like I have said before, what you NAME something is much less relevant than what you DO or what actually HAPPENS.
The problems of language have arisen in HIV epidemiology when creating risk categories based on a person's self-reported sexual orientation. A man might identify himself as heterosexual while having unprotected receptive anal intercourse with other men. What he calls himself in no way conveys his actual risk for infection. That's why this guy would fall into the risk group "men who have sex with men" or MSM, which relies on behavior more than identity.
Remember the model for transmission. When HIV infected fluids (blood, semen, vaginal/cervical secretions) come into contact with mucous membranes (lining of rectum, vagina, urethra, and mouth) or directly with the bloodstream (usually through injection needles) there is the opportunity for infection. Other factors, like amount of fluids, amount of virus, and immune response, will influence the odds for infection.
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