CHANCES OF TRANSMITTING HIV
Mother-to-Child-Transmission: 25% Without Treatment (1 in 4 Chance)
Needle Sharing: 0.67% Per Exposure (1 in 150 Chance Each Time)
Unprotected Receptive Anal Sex: 0.5% Per Exposure (1 in 200 Chance Each Time)
Unprotected Receptive Vaginal Sex: 0.1% Per Exposure (1 in 1000 Chance Each Time)
If a man infected with HIV has unprotected vaginal sex with a woman, the woman has a 0.1% chance (1 in 1000 chance) per exposure of contracting HIV. Women’s genitalia have a larger mucosal surface area than men. Overall, in vaginal sex, there is a greater risk that HIV will be transmitted to the woman than to the man.
Unprotected Insertive Anal Sex: 0.065% Per Exposure (1 in 1538 Chance Each Time)
If a man has unprotected insertive anal sex, or is a “top”, with a partner who is infected with HIV, he has a 0.065% chance (1 in 1538 chance) of contracting HIV each time. As in other sexual practices, using a condom correctly every time will greatly reduce his risk of contracting HIV.
Unprotected Insertive Vaginal Sex: 0.05% Per Exposure (1 in 2000 Chance Each Time)
If a man has unprotected insertive vaginal sex with a woman who is infected with HIV, he has a 0.05% chance (1 in 2000 chance) of contracting HIV each time. It’s worth repeating: using a condom correctly every time will greatly reduce your risk.
Unprotected Receptive Oral Sex on a Man: 0.01% Per Exposure (1 in 10,000 Chance Each Time)
Unprotected Insertive Oral Sex on a Man: 0.005% Per Exposure (1 in 20,000 Chance Each Time)
If a person performs oral sex on a man without using a condom, the person has a 0.01% chance (1 in 10,000 chance) of contracting HIV each time. If a man has unprotected oral sex performed on him without a condom by an HIV positive partner, he has a 0.005% chance (1 in 20,000 chance) of contracting HIV each time.
Because these risks are relatively lower than some other practices such as insertive or receptive anal sex, people sometimes think that “oral sex is safe sex.” It’s important to realize that the risk of HIV transmission in either direction via oral sex is not zero, and since there’s no cure for HIV once you’re infected, why take an unnecessary risk that could change your life forever? Also realize that there are other sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, syphilis, and gonorrhea that can be transmitted via oral sex. So if you have oral sex, use a condom each to reduce your risk of contracting HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Unprotected oral sex on a woman
It is difficult to predict the risk of HIV transmission for either partner when performing oral sex on a woman. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the risk for HIV transmission is low compared to vaginal and anal sex. It is important to remember that there have been documented cases of HIV transmission likely occurring from oral sex on a woman, so using protection like a dental dam is always a good idea to decrease your risk of any STDs, including HIV.
Remember, the averages won’t help you if you’re the one who becomes infected. For example, unprotected insertive oral sex on a man may carry an estimated risk of 1 chance of HIV transmission in 20,000, but if you’re the one who gets infected, HIV transmission is still 100% for you. These statistics are not a license to engage in unprotected sex. Rather, they will hopefully help people to realize that all of the sexual practices we’ve listed carry some risk of HIV transmission, so it’s vital if you’re sexually active to always practice safer sex techniques such as the use of condoms.
No matter who you are, you are a valuable individual, and your life matters as do the lives of those in your community. Take care of yourself and those around you. Make healthy choices that eliminate or reduce your risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. This is Dr. Becky Kuhn.
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Written by Eric Krock and Becky Kuhn, M.D.
This script was reviewed and approved for scientific and medical accuracy by Becky Kuhn, M.D. on March 23, 2008.
www.aidsvideos.org/scripts/HIV_Relative_Risks.doc 