A partnership where one person is infected with HIV and the other is not can be described as a sero-discordant or discordant relationship. There is a risk of HIV transmission if the discordant couple has unprotected sex. However, this risk can be greatly reduced with the use of condoms during vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Both partners in a discordant sexual relationship should take on the responsibility of protecting one another from HIV infection. Although anyone can be at risk for HIV, some people can be more at risk depending upon the types of sexual practices and drug use they are engaging in.
Being gay does not necessarily mean you are at higher risk, but certain activities gay men sometimes participate in might put them at greater risk. Overall, the gay male population in Canada has higher rates of HIV infection than some other populations. Stigma and homophobia can affect a person's ability to access information about safer sex specifically for gay men.
Although it is possible to become infected with HIV through oral sex, the risk of becoming infected in this way is much lower than the risk of infection via unprotected sexual intercourse with a man or woman.
When giving oral sex to a man sucking or licking a man's penis a person could become infected with HIV if infected semen came into contact with damaged and receding gums, or any cuts or sores they might have in their mouth. Giving oral sex to a woman licking a woman's vulva or vagina is also considered relatively low risk. Transmission could take place if infected sexual fluids from a woman got into the mouth of her partner.
