Women on the Road to Health | YOU are WORTH It!

Protective Behaviors

As we've seen, people put themselves at risk for HIV in two ways:

1. Whenever they have unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral)
2. When they share injection equipment (needles and syringes) for any purpose (drugs, steroids, or vitamins/medicine)

How can you protect yourself? To be protected, people can:

* Use latex or polyurethane condoms during sex
* Not have sex (abstain)
* Those who have not been able to quit injecting drugs should always use new, or clean needles and syringes
* Consider making an agreement with your partner, that if either of you were ever to go outside the relationship, you would practice safe sex (by using a condom with someone else, for example)
* Avoid drinking or using drugs if you plan to have sex because being high makes it less likely that you or your partner will use a condom or avoid unsafe sex