HIV Counselor PERSPECTIVES________

Unsafe Sex

"Unsafe sex" refers to unprotected sexual activities that put people at risk for HIV infection. It consists of activities that involve the exchange of body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk. Researchers believe HIV can be transmitted through pre-ejaculate, the fluid released from the penis before ejaculation. While other fluids, such as saliva, urine and tears may contain HIV, it is generally believed that the quantity of HIV in these body fluids is not sufficient to transmit the virus.

Inside PERSPECTIVES

• Research Update
• Implications for Counseling
• Test Yourself / Discussion Questions

The information included in this document was obtained from the 1992 December issue (Vol. 2, No. 6) issue of "HIV Counselor PERSPECTIVES." PERSPECTIVES is an educational publication of the California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, written and produced by the AIDS Health Project of the University of California San Francisco (John Tighe, writer and editor). Reprint permission is granted, provided acknowledgment is given to the Department of Health Services.