Risk calculator

Depending on your ‘sexstyle’ (the type of sex you’re having), the level of risk of HIV transmission will vary.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I having sex with someone whose HIV status I don’t know?
  • Am I having sex with someone who is HIV positive and is not on an effective Anti-Retorival Therapy (ART)?
  • Do I have anal sex?
  • Do I have sex without a condom?
  • Do I use condoms sometimes but not every time I have sex?
  • Have I recently (within last 6 months) had an HIV test and know my HIV status?

If you answer yes to even one of these questions, you could be at risk for contracting HIV and you should see a health care worker to help get you on an HIV prevention plan.

Find Out if You Might Be at Risk

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HIV is passed on in a number of ways including:

Sex without a condom, sharing injecting needles, breastfeeding and/or direct blood to blood contact with a person who is living with HIV, from mother to child during childbirth.

Risky Business

Although saliva provides a natural barrier against HIV, there is still a risk of transmission during oral sex, especially if an open and bleeding sore comes into contact with semen (or vaginal fluid) containing a high load of HIV.

If you don’t use a condom every time you have sex (vaginal or anal), you are at risk of getting HIV. If you are using PrEP the chances of getting HIV are reduced by over 90%. However there is still a risk of contracting an STI such as syphilis, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea etc. So condom use is always advised when having sex, even if you or your partner is on PrEP.

Having an STI makes it easier for you to get HIV, so it is important to test for and treat any STI’s to reduce the risk of HIV Having unprotected vaginal sex with partners whose HIV status you do not know puts you at real risk of getting HIV.

Unprotected anal sex is a high risk sexual activity because the lining of the rectum is thin and may allow HIV to enter the body more easily during anal sex, than during vaginal sex.

Reducing your risk

You can manage your risk. There is no reason to take risks when there are protection options within YOUR control A sexual activity that was Extremely High Risk (without protection), becomes less risky when you use proper protection.

When you Know your status and understand your risks, then you can choose the HIV protection option(s) that suits you. Making the right safe sex choices can mean you can reduce your risk of transmitting or receiving HIV.

Ways to Reduce Risk:

  • Sex with person that has the same status as you (both tested)
  • PrEP
  • Undetectable Viral Load (ART)
  • Condoms
  • Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC)
  • Delay your sexual debut (Abstinence)