Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is one of the most common diseases that is known to attack the body’s immune system. Thus, let this article be an instrument to share with you about HIV awareness that may involve sex toys. So, is it possible to get HIV from using sex toys? Quick answer; yes but it is a low risk. Let us educate you on this.
How do you get HIV?
First of all, let us simplify how you can get HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment (works) to inject drugs puts people at high risk for getting or transmitting HIV and other infections. “Used needles, syringes, and other injection equipment may have someone else’s blood on them, and blood can carry HIV.”
Other Ways that HIV CAN be transmitted
You can also get HIV during anal or vaginal sex WHEN you have sex with someone who has HIV without using protection (like condoms or medicine to treat or prevent HIV). Also, in oral sex; putting the mouth on the penis (fellatio), vagina or vulva (cunnilingus), or anus (rimming). The factors that may affect the risk of getting HIV include; Ejaculation in the mouth with oral ulcers, bleeding gums, or genital sores, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
HIV through Sex Toys?
Is it possible to get HIV from using sex toys? HIV can be transmitted via sex toys such as dildos, vibrators and butt-plugs, IF THEY ARE BEING SHARED and one of them has HIV. Touching a partner’s vagina, penis, or anus with sex toys with bodily fluids who have HIV may transmit the disease to the other partner involved. “The only possible risk would be if body fluids from a person with HIV touch the mucous membranes or damaged tissue of someone without HIV. Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, vagina, opening of the penis, and mouth. Damaged tissue could include cuts, sores, or open wounds,” CDC added.
What are examples of body fluids that transmit HIV? These are blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids and vaginal fluids.
How to Avoid HIV when using Sex Toys
When you are using sex toys, make sure to wash it before and after use so that any body fluids with HIV won’t cling on to the toys and infect the other partner who may have a damaged tissue like cut, sore or open wounds. This way, you protect yourself during sex. Another way is using condoms. Condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), like gonorrhea and chlamydia.
For more peace of mind, getting tested and treated for other STDs can lower your chances of getting HIV. Lastly, according to the CDC, If your partner has HIV, encourage your partner to get and stay in treatment. If your partner takes HIV medicine and gets and keeps an undetectable viral load, you will not get HIV from sex with your partner.
References:
https://www.afao.org.au/about-hiv/hiv-prevention/low-no-risk-sexual-practices/#:~:text=HIV%20can%20be%20transmitted%20from,prevent%20HIV%20being%20passed%20on. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html
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