What are ways to reduce the risk of HIV or other STD transmission?

• Choose not to have sex, or make an agreement with a partner who is not HIV-positive to be sexually faithful to each other, and stick to it.
  
  
• Use a condom for vaginal or anal sexual intercourse, and barrier methods, such as a condom or dental dam, for oral sex.
  
  
• Do not share needles for injection drug use.
  
  
• Get tested! And ask partners to do the same.

Here's how you don't get infected with HIV: hugging, touching, sneezing, coughing, playing sports, sharing eating utensils, or sharing a bathroom with a person who is infected with HIV. There are no documented cases of transmission through sweat or tears. Mosquitoes, fleas and other insects don't transmit HIV either.

HIV is transmitted through an exchange of certain body fluids - blood, vaginal secretions, semen and breast milk. Because HIV lives in these fluids in high concentrations, most people are infected through: unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral) with an infected person; sharing drug needles, syringes (shooting drugs) with an infected person; pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding when the mother is HIV positive

HIV must get into your blood stream to infect you. That means if you're having sex and any of your partner's blood, semen (including pre-cum), or vaginal secretions come in contact with a tiny tear in the lining of your vagina, anus or mouth, even invisible ones, you are at risk of being infected.

What is the risk of HIV and other STD transmission from oral sex?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), oral sex is not "safe sex." While the risk of contracting HIV through oral sex is lower than through vaginal or anal intercourse, just how much lower is hard to know. It is possible to contract HIV and other STDs such as herpes or gonorrhea through unprotected oral sex. To reduce your risk, experts advise using a condom or other barrier method (such as a dental dam) during oral sex.