No risk : Swiss AIDS Federation

No risk

In daily situations, there is no risk of getting infected with HIV. HIV is not one of the easily transmittable diseases. Kissing, including French kissing, is not risky, the same goes for caressing and petting. There's practically no risk of HIV from oral sex, either.

©dacat84 / photocase

Is it risky to use the same dishes, toothbrushes and razor blades?

No, there is no risk using these things. The same goes for visiting swimming pools and saunas.

Why isn't there any risk of HIV from oral sex?

There is practically no risk of HIV from sucking or licking the penis, vagina or anus, because the oral mucous membrane is very stable, even if sperm or menstrual blood enters the mouth. There have been only a few reported cases world-wide in which someone became infected with HIV this way.

Is a mouth ulcer or a small wound in the mouth a risk?

No. Mouth ulcers or small wounds in the mouth do not pose a risk for HIV transmission.
Saliva has a virus inhibiting function. Excluded from this are sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea (the clap), chlamydia and herpes.

Does a piercing or a scoring tattoo pose a risk?

No. As far as simple rules of hygiene are observed: wash your hands, disinfect, use disposable needles.

I've been bitten by a mosquito. Can I get infected like that?

HIV is not passed on via mosquitoes, other insects or other animals, such as dogs.

Is a small cut on my finger dangerous when I use my hand to pleasure a woman?

No. The HI virus can not be transmitted through torn cuticles or small cuts on the finger.

Is it possible to become infected through faeces or urine?

No. However the Hepatitis A virus can be found in faeces, but there is a vaccination to protect you.

Is a syringe which has been left lying around dangerous?

No. The HI virus is no longer infectious once it makes contact with the air. Worldwide there have never been any documented cases of transmission of the virus from a syringe left lying around.

For recommendations based on your personal sexuality, try our Safer Sex Check at lovelife.ch

Data protection, cookies and privacy

This website complies with Swiss data protection legislation. More information in our "Privacy Statement".

Data protection, cookies and privacy

This website complies with Swiss data protection legislation. Your privacy is important to us and we process your data in accordance with these regulations. You will find further information in our "Privacy Statement". By using our website, you consent to the processing of your data in accordance with these regulations.

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies are essential for the proper functioning of our website. They enable you to navigate our website, access secure areas and use basic functions. Without these cookies, our website cannot function properly. They do not store any personally identifiable information and are usually defined as a response to your actions, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling out forms. You can set your browser to block these cookies, but some parts of our website may not work properly if you do.

Analytics cookies

Analytics cookies help us improve our website by collecting information about how it is used. They help us understand how visitors interact with our website, which pages are most popular and how they get to our website. This information is collected anonymously and in aggregate form, which means that it does not contain any personally identifiable information. We use this information to continually improve our website, its content and the user experience. If you prefer not to allow these cookies, you can disable them, but this may affect the quality of your experience on our website.

Integrated content

We use third-party services to provide features and display useful content on our website. For example, for integrated videos, we use YouTube, which sets cookies to analyse video traffic and improve your user experience. You can accept or reject these cookies.

Your cookie preferences have been saved.