Yes, it is harder for men to contract HIV from women than vice versa. The reason for this is that the tissue of the penis is less absorbent (therefore less prone to absorbing the HIV virus) than the tissue of the vagina. However, some studies have shown that the risk of HIV transmission can increase by up to 60% for uncircumcised men (the skin under the folds of the foreskin is thinner and more absorbent than the skin on a circumcised penis). Unprotected anal sex (with a man or woman) represents a higher risk of HIV transmission than unprotected vaginal sex; the tissue in the anus is more absorbent than tissue in the vagina.

- NZAF official response

Hi. HIV can only be transmitted via blood to blood contact, the exchange of bodily fluids through unprotected sex, sharing needles and through childbirth. HIV cannot be transmitted via skin to skin contact alone.

If the sensual massage extended to penile penetration and no condom was used, then this would represent an increased risk of exposure to HIV. If the massage was limited to surface rubbing and touching, and there was no unbroken skin on either person, then there would be no risk of HIV exposure.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. The latest published data on HIV among NZ sex workers was a study by the AIDS Epidemiology Group at the University of Otago in 2005/2006.

The study recorded that there was no HIV infection among the 298 females, 32 males and 13 trans-sexual sex workers who took part in the study. This is a relatively small sample group but these figures would suggest that HIV rates among sex workers in NZ is very low. The New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (http://www.nzpc.org.nz) also has a strong reputation of encouraging safe sex among NZ sex workers.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. The latest published data on HIV among NZ sex workers was a study by the AIDS Epidemiology Group at the University of Otago in 2005/2006.

The study recorded that there was no HIV infection among the 298 females, 32 males and 13 trans-sexual sex workers who took part in the study. This is a relatively small sample group but these figures would suggest that HIV rates among sex workers in NZ is very low. The New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (http://www.nzpc.org.nz) also has a strong reputation of encouraging safe sex among NZ sex workers.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. If you are still a New Zealand citizen then you will be entitled to full and free public healthcare included fully funded ARV treatment here in New Zealand. We would suggest that you bring a 3 month supply of ARVs with you, plus a prescription for a further 3 month supply which you should be able to get filled in New Zealand. We would also recommend registering with a GP and/or HIV specialist as soon as you arrive. It would be a good idea to look on the internet for a medical centre in the area you plan on moving to in New Zealand and calling them to discuss your situation with a GP.

Unfortunately we are restricted from directly advising on actual immigration policy, so we would need to direct you to the Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.dia.govt.nz/) for any visa information if you require it, and Immigration New Zealand (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/) for citizenship information; both websites have contact information should you wish to talk to them over the phone. We hope this information helps.

- NZAF official response

Hi. You are correct that the window period for accurately testing for HIV is 3 months after suspected transmission. An HIV test measures the antibodies to HIV rather than the HIV virus itself and it can take up to 3 months for the antibodies to appear in the bloodstream. Having an HIV test one day after suspected exposure would not give an accurate result. If you decide to have an HIV test immediately, it is absolutely vital that you return for a second test at the 3 month point. Condoms should continue to be used every time you have sex. An HIV test can be booked through your local GP or sexual health clinic.

- NZAF official response

Hi. There is no data that shows HIV diagnoses by geographic region in NZ so we cannot advise how many people have the HIV virus in a particular area. We can tell you that the best estimate of people currently living with HIV in NZ is 1800. In 2010 there were 149 people diagnosed with HIV in this country.

- NZAF official response

Hi. It is sometimes possible for a condom to break or rupture during sex, and this can increase the risk of exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV we would strongly encourage you to have an HIV test through your GP or local sexual health clinic. Please note that it can take up to 3 months for HIV to appear in a person's bloodstream, so it is important that you have a second HIV test 3 months after a suspected exposure to HIV.

- NZAF official response

Hi. Condoms are extremely effective at preventing the transmission of HIV - the risk only increases if the condom breaks, slips off or is not used during consistently for penetrative sex. There is no data on those diagnosed as HIV positive in NZ as to whether or not transmission occurred while wearing a condom.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. Condoms are extremely effective at preventing the transmission of HIV so yes it is safe for you to have intercourse with your HIV+ partner while wearing a condom. It is vital that a condom is used every time during anal intercourse, whether you are the giver or the receiver. Oral sex presents a very low risk of HIV transmission as both saliva and stomach acid is known to neutralise HIV; risk increases if there is an open cut in the mouth.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. The latest published data on HIV prevalence among NZ sex workers was a study by the AIDS Epidemiology Group at the University of Otago in 2005/2006. The study recorded that there was no HIV infection among the 298 females, 32 males and 13 trans-sexual current sex workers. This is a relatively small sample group but these figures would suggest that HIV rates among sex workers in NZ is very low. The New Zealand Prostitutes Collective (http://www.nzpc.org.nz) also has a strong reputation of encouraging safe sex among NZ sex workers.

Condoms remain the only effective tool to effectively reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV, whether with a prostitute or not, which is why it's important to use a condom and lube every time you have sex. However if think you have been exposed to HIV we would encourage you to have an HIV test through your GP or local sexual health clinic.

- NZAF official response

Hi, HIV can only be transmitted via blood to blood contact or via unprotected anal or vaginal sex, so there is almost a non-existent risk of HIV transmission in the situation you have described. If she touched her own genitals immediately before touching yours, and If there was blood on her genitals and an open sore on your penis then there may be a small risk of transmission. It is important to consider other STI's aswell. Some STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, warts and even syphilis can be transmitted either by skin to skin contact or by touching an uninfected area immediately after touching an infected area. There is no risk of HIV transmission through the use of shared soap. If you still feel you may have been exposed to any STI we would encourage you to have a full STI screening through your GP or local sexual health clinic.

- NZAF official response

Hi. Oral sex carries a very low risk for HIV infection as saliva in the mouth acts as a natural defence to the HIV virus. Therefore your chances of contracting HIV from having your penis sucked is very low - especially if there was no blood in the saliva. The risk of HIV infection increases if there are sores or cuts in the mouth of the person doing the sucking.

Oral sex can pose a risk for transmitting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
If you believe you may have been exposed to an STI we would encourage you to have a full STI screening with your GP or local sexual health clinic. If you are still worried about your risk of HIV infection it's important to wait 3 months from the incident where you think you may have been infected before taking the test. An HIV test tests for the antibodies to HIV rather than HIV itself and it can take up to 3 months for antibodies to appear in the bloodstream. You can book an HIV FASTest through the NZAF by clicking the button at the top right of this screen.

- NZAF official response

Hi. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention explain that; genital sores caused by syphilis can make it easier to transmit and acquire HIV infection sexually. There is an estimated 2 to 5-fold increased risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to that infection when syphilis is present.
Ulcerative STIs that cause sores, ulcers, or breaks in the skin or mucous membranes, such as syphilis, disrupt barriers that provide protection against infections. The genital ulcers caused by syphilis can bleed easily, and when they come into contact with other bodily fluid during sex, increase the infectiousness of and susceptibility to HIV.
At the NZAF we offer both HIV and Syphilis FASTests which provide results within 20 minutes. The test is free and confidential. You can read more about our STI testing services, and make a booking, by clicking the 'Get Tested' icon at the top right of this screen.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. Unfortunately we are restricted from directly advising on immigration policy, so we would need to direct you to the Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.dia.govt.nz/) for visa information, and Immigration New Zealand (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/) for citizenship information; both websites have contact information should you wish to talk to them over the phone. There is also a website called 'HIV Travel' which may be of interest; http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=133

In New Zealand, the Human Rights Act 1993 is quite clear on employment discrimination. We would suggest you contact the NZ Human Rights Commission for detailed advice, but below is a relevant excerpt from the Act:

Unlawful Discrimination: Further exceptions in relation to disability:
(1) Nothing in section 22 shall prevent different treatment based on disability where—
(a) the position is such that the person could perform the duties of the position satisfactorily only with the aid of special services or facilities and it is not reasonable to expect the employer to provide those services or facilities; or
(b) the environment in which the duties of the position are to be performed or the nature of those duties, or of some of them, is such that the person could perform those duties only with a risk of harm to that person or to others, including the risk of infecting others with an illness, and it is not reasonable to take that risk.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1)(b) shall apply if the employer could, without unreasonable disruption, take reasonable measures to reduce the risk to a normal level.

In terms of HIV healthcare in New Zealand, we do have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) which would allow citizens of those countries free access to HIV treatment, including antiretroviral (ARV) medication in New Zealand. For more information on healthcare for immigrants to New Zealand, check out this link: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/eligibility-reciprocalagreements

We hope this information has helped.

- NZAF official response

Hi. Ask as many questions as you have; we’re here to help. HIV does not live on the skin so a rash will not transmit the HIV virus. It does sound like a serious rash, however, so we would strongly encourage you to see your doctor about it; it's important that the cause of the skin rash is identified. It is very unlikely that blisters and the fluid inside blisters could transmit HIV unless they contain blood - even then they would have to come into contact with open sores or wounds of an uninfected person. There is no risk of infection if the blisters are unbroken, or fluid from the blisters comes into contact with the unbroken skin of another person. The HIV virus is not present in perspiration so there is no risk of transmission through sweat. If you pricked your finger and did not draw blood, there is no risk of transmission. If you drew blood and a drop fell on food, the risk of transmission is very small indeed; a person would need to ingest considerable quantities of blood containing the HIV virus for transmission to occur. Studies have shown that HIV can live outside of the body for up to two hours, depending on external factors, but in the situation you’ve described, a drop of blood on food while it’s cooking would not represent a risk of transmission. In regards to hand sanitisers, as mentioned above, HIV does not live on the skin. If you were to have blood on your hands and washed it off, there would be no risk of transmission.

The HIV virus can only be transmitted via blood to blood contact, unprotected anal or vaginal sex, sharing needles, childbirth and through breastfeeding. If you have any more questions or concerns, please feel free to add another post.

- NZAF official response

Kissing is considered a zero risk activity for the transmission of HIV. Oral sex carries a very low risk for HIV infection as saliva in the mouth acts as a natural defence to the HIV virus. Therefore your chances of contracting HIV from having your penis sucked is very low. The risk of HIV infection increases if there is blood to blood contact, for example sores or cuts in the mouth of the person doing the sucking and sores or cuts on your penis.

Oral sex can pose a risk for transmitting other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
If you believe you may have been exposed to an STI we would encourage you to have a full STI screening with your GP or local sexual health clinic. If you are still worried about your risk of HIV infection it's important to wait 3 months from the incident where you think you may have been infected before taking the test. An HIV test tests for the antibodies to HIV rather than HIV itself and it can take up to 3 months for antibodies to appear in the bloodstream.

- NZAF official response

Hi. HIV can only be transmitted via blood to blood contact or via unprotected anal or vaginal sex. If there was blood on her genitals and an open sore on your penis then there may be a small risk of transmission. It is important to consider other STI's aswell. Some STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, warts and even syphilis can be transmitted either by skin to skin contact or by touching an uninfected area immediately after touching an infected area. If you are in contact with this girl it would be a good idea to ask if she has any known STIs. If you still feel you may have been exposed to any STI we would encourage you to have a full STI screening through your GP or local sexual health clinic.

- NZAF official response

Hi. Thanks for your question. There has been much research on this topic with varying results determined by varying external factors but the general consensus is that HIV does not live outside of the body for more than 2 hours. Although you have mentioned a 5 minute window, it would be highly unlikely that HIV would be transmitted in the situation you have described. If your anus was bleeding or if you had an open cut or wound on your anus then this could increase the risk of transmission. If you feel you may have been exposed to HIV you are welcome to contact us for an HIV Fastest - click the icon at the top right of this screen for more information.

More information about HIV, including the HIV test window period, can be read here: http://www.nzaf.org.nz/hiv-prevention/item/hiv101

- NZAF official response

Hi. Unfortunately there is no medication available that can decrease the risk of infection after suspected exposure to HIV. Contraceptive pills also do not reduce the risk of HIV or other STI transmission. An ideal first step would be for your girlfriend to contact the guy she slept with last weekend and ask his HIV status and whether he has any STIs. We would also recommend that both you and your girlfriend visit a sexual health clinic or GP for a full STI screening, including an HIV test. Different STIs have different 'window periods', that is, the amount of time it takes for the infection to present in the body after exposure. The window period for HIV can be up to 3 months; it can take that long for detectable levels of antibodies to HIV to appear in the bloodstream. So we would recommend a second HIV test 3 months from now. Here is a link to some good information on various STIs: http://www.ashs.org.nz/fact_sheets.html. We understand that this is a stressful situation both on a personal level and a relationship level, so we would also suggest considering talking to your GP or a counsellor if you feel under pressure.

- NZAF official response

Hi. There would need to be blood to blood contact for you to contract HIV in this way. If your lips were chapped to the point where the skin was broken and bleeding, and came into contact with fresh blood of an HIV positive person, then there could be a small risk of infection. If the blood on their skin was dry (ie, no open or bleeding wound or cut) then there is no risk; HIV can only live outside of the body for a very small amount of time. If you have any uncertainty however, we would encourage you to have an HIV test. At the NZAF we provide free and confidential fast-tests which give you results in 20 minutes. Click the 'Get Tested' button at the top right of this screen for details.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your questions.
Many people find sexual satisfaction in pornography, and it is entirely up to the user to decide how porn fits into their sex life. If you have concerns about your own use of pornography you may find it helpful to talk through these concerns with someone. At the NZAF we offer excellent free and confidential counselling services with counsellors who specialise in all areas of sexual identity. Click the 'Our Services' tab on our homepage to find out more. In regards to your second question, no you cannot get sexually transmitted diseases from a handjob. The only exception would be if you are the person giving the handjob and semen comes into direct contact with an open wound on your hand, which would present a very small risk of transmission.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. At present there are 1800 people living with HIV in New Zealand. In May we released a great resource; 'HIV Update 2011' which provides the latest statistics on the HIV epidemic in New Zealand. From the homepage of this website click on Our Voices and scroll through the articles to view an on-line copy of the HIV Update.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thank you for your question. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website has an excellent section on HIV transmission that you would find very helpful - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm. The fourth topic from the bottom at this link talks about HIV transmission via mosquitos. Many reputable HIV research organisations have concluded studies that show no evidence whatsoever of HIV transmission via mosquitos or any other insect, so it is not possible that your father has acquired HIV from a mosquito that bit you. The risk of transmitting HIV through sharing eating utensils or drinking from the same glass is also extremely unlikely. There is a lot of research showing that saliva acts as a natural barrier to the HIV virus, so transmission of HIV via saliva is very low. Blisters are a known symptom of HIV but there is no reason to conclude that your father’s blisters represent a presence of HIV infection. HIV is transmitted through unprotected anal sex, direct blood to blood contact, breastfeeding, childbirth and sharing needles. Without giving your father an HIV test we could not confirm if he has acquired HIV, but we can confidently say that if you have not partaken in the above activities with your father, then he has not acquired HIV from you. Naturally this is a stressful experience for you so we would like to extend our support through our free and confidential counselling services, should you like to discuss this further with one of our support centre staff. We have centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and can provide services in many other locations around the country also. To find the centre closest to you click on ‘Our Services’ on the homepage.

- NZAF official response

Hi, thanks for your question. In individual cases it’s often not possible to pinpoint exactly which sexual activity resulted in transmission of HIV, however a lot of research shows that the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex is very low indeed. Unprotected anal sex remains by far the highest risk of HIV transmission (eighteen times higher for receptive anal sex than receptive vaginal sex in developed countries). Research has also shown that saliva acts as a natural barrier to the HIV virus so transmission of HIV via saliva as in insertive oral sex is extremely unlikely. If you are still concerned that you may have been exposed to the HIV virus we recommend that you make an appointment for an HIV test. For more information about booking a test, click the ‘Get Tested’ icon at the top right of this screen.

- NZAF official response

If the skin on your penis was not broken or cut and if there was no blood present, either from your penis or from the mouth of the person sucking you, then the risk of HIV transmission is very low. Oral sex carries a very low risk for HIV infection as saliva in the mouth acts as a natural defence to the HIV virus. It is important to point out that we cannot give a personal diagnosis online, so if you feel that you might be at risk of HIV we strongly encourage you to make an appointment for an HIV test. The NZAF provides a FASTest which is very quick and painless and gives you results in only 20 minutes. The test is also completely confidential. You can book a free HIV FASTest through the NZAF by clicking the 'Get Tested' button at the top right of this screen. You can also get tested through your local doctor or sexual health clinic.

Unfortunately HIV diagnosis statistics do not identify Fijian Indian diagnoses in particular.
In 2010 there were 35 heterosexual people diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand. Of those, 8 people identified as Asian and 1 person identified as Pacific.
There were 90 gay or bisexual men diagnosed with HIV in 2010 and of those, 9 people identified as Asian and 1 person identified as Pacific.

- NZAF official response

Oral sex carries a very low risk for HIV infection as saliva in the mouth acts as a natural defence to the HIV virus. Therefore your chances of contracting HIV from having your penis sucked is very low - especially if there was no blood in the saliva. The risk of HIV infection increases if there are sores or cuts in the mouth of the person doing the sucking.

Oral sex can pose a risk for transmitting other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
At the NZAF we provide a FASTtest that can check for HIV and also Syphillis and Hepatitis C. If you are worried about your risk of HIV infection you should leave a three month window period from the incident where you think you may have been infected to taking the test. This gives time for the HIV antibodies to develop in your system, which is what the HIV FASTtests check for. You can book a STI/HIV FASTtest by clicking the button at the top right of this screen.

- NZAF official response

Hi there. Thanks for your question. The best estimate of people currently living with HIV in New Zealand is 1800. We have an excellent resource on our website - the 'HIV Update 2011 - MP Briefing' - which has the very latest statistics and provides a snapshot of HIV in New Zealand right now. Click the below link to view the resource:

http://www.nzaf.org.nz/voices/view/hiv-update-2011-mp-briefing

This resource was based on research carried out by the AIDS Epidemiology Group at the University of Otago, so you may find some useful information on their site also:

http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/aids/hiv_aids.html


At the NZAF office at 31 Hargreaves St, St Mary's Bay, Auckland we also have the most comprehensive library of HIV and AIDS related texts in the southern hemisphere, and you are more than welcome to use the library for your study. Feel free to call us on 09 303 3124 to make an appointment.

- NZAF official response

There is still a risk of HIV transmission even if neither party ejaculated – the anus is very susceptible to HIV and you should always use a condom and lube when having anal sex. Another thing to consider is that if the guy you had unprotected sex with didn’t wear a condom with you, how many other people has he not worn a condom with? You can never know a person’s HIV status or guess at it, so it’s essential you protect yourself instead of risking it. It can take up to three months for HIV to show up in HIV FASTtest so book now on our testing pages.

- NZAF official response

Oral sex is a low risk activity for HIV, especially if there is no, or minimal, contact with semen. The risk increases if there are sores or cuts in the receiver’s mouth. Oral sex can be a risk for transmitting other STIs, and the NZAF FASTtest will also check you for Syphillis and Hepatitis C. If you are worried about your risk of HIV infection you should leave a three month window period from the incident where you think you may have been infected to taking the test. This gives time for the HIV antibodies to develop in your system, which is what the HIV FASTtests check for.

- NZAF official response

HIV/AIDS is something that can affect all communities and in New Zealand, an organisation called Positive Women is dedicated to supporting women and families living with HIV. You can visit their website for more information and contact details: http://www.positivewomen.org.nz

- NZAF official response

It is always best to bring a three month supply of medication with you as it will take time to arrange meetings with a local prescriber, blood tests etc. Not knowing what medication you are on currently means that it is hard to be specific and while it is likely that your medication will have a subsidy from pharmac this is not certain. If you want more details ie what medications are funded, NZAF suggest you contact either Pharmac directly or talk with the NZAF Treatment Officer, Eamonn Smythe who will be able to provide more detail.You can call Eamonn on +64 9 300 6958.

- NZAF official response

There are a number of HIV peer support groups in New Zealand, including of course the New Zealand AIDS Foundation which has centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch as well as a counselling network around the country. There is also Body Positive (http://www.bodypositive.org.nz), Positive Women (http://www.positivewomen.org.nz), INA (for Maori) and Absolutely Positively Positive (http://www.app.org.nz). You may also find the Ministry of Health a useful source of information (http://www.moh.govt.nz).

- NZAF official response

Masturbation is a very low risk activity for transmitting STIs as long as there is no oral-genital or genital-to-genital contact, and skin integrity is not compromised by seminal fluids. This minimises the risk of contracting HSV (Herpes) or HPV (Genital Warts) and other STIs.

While mouth-to-mouth kissing is a low risk activity for passing on STIs, it is still possible to transmit/receive a viral infection such as Herpes. For more information on STIs check out the sexual health website http://www.ashs.org.nz/fact_sheets.html#HPV or if you have clinical symptoms make an appointment to see a GP or sexual health clinic.

- NZAF official response

The best advice we can offer would be to contact Immigration New Zealand directly. You could try the Taiwan branch http://www.nzvisa.org.tw and 886 2 2757 7060, or you can email Immigration New Zealand directly using the help facility on their website http://www.immigration.govt.nz. We’re not in a position to legally advise on Immigration issues but Immigration New Zealand’s website states that people seeking a student visa who wish to stay in New Zealand between six months and one year only require a Temporary Entry X-ray certificate to show they have been screened for TB. Those wishing to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months have to undergo a medical, which includes screening for HIV.

- NZAF official response

ARVs are funded for NZ residents and citizens, and while New Zealand does not have Truvada we do have the two medications which Truvada are comprised of. Re your partner, it's best to contact http://www.immigration.govt.nz for more details.

- NZAF official response

It is difficult to pin down an exact figure as HIV is non-notifiable in New Zealand. Since the epidemic reached New Zealand in the mid-1980s, more than 3300 people have been diagnosed with HIV, and a recent report from the Ministry of Health estimated that there are between 1500 and 2000 people living with HIV in New Zealand at present. You can take a look at the latest NZ-AIDS newsletter for the latest figures here: http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/aids/newsletters.html

- NZAF official response

A range of treatment and support services are available in New Zealand, including ARVs. Please take a look at the Positive People pages of our website, call 0800 80 24 37 or visit the Ministry of Health's HIV pages.

- NZAF official response

The best way to know if you’ve contracted HIV is to get tested. It can take up to three months before the virus shows up in your system, so now would be a good time to get tested.

- NZAF official response

Oral sex is a very low risk activity for HIV Transmission unless there is significant broken skin or gum disease in your mouth. If you’re worried, you can book an HIV fast test by clicking here

- NZAF official response

Oral sex is a low risk activity for HIV transmission (unless there is significant broken tissue or gum disease in your mouth), because your saliva acts as a natural barrier.

The most important factor is the amount of time semen is present in your mouth. There is very low risk if you spit or swallow semen, however this risk is increased if you keep it in your mouth for a prolonged period.

- NZAF official response

In 2005, a legal precedent in New Zealand was established that the use of condoms discharged the legal duty on a person living with HIV to take ‘reasonable precautions’ to keep others safe from HIV transmission. This was ground breaking as it recognised the risk of HIV transmission is from not using condoms and not whether or not HIV status had been disclosed.“Reasonable precautions” to avoid sexual transmission of HIV include only engaging in sexual activities that involve a very low or no risk of transmission (e.g. oral sex, masturbation and kissing, using condoms for anal and vaginal sex).

However, it is worth noting that while a person living with HIV may avoid legal liability if they inform their partner of their status (disclosure) before sex, the partner must give explicit consent. If consent is not given, or considered to be given under duress, the person living with HIV might still be liable for prosecution and conviction, where no condoms have been used, even if there is no transmission of the HIV virus. For example consent can be disputed if alcohol, drugs or fear are involved.

It is very important to note however, that it is not the known or unknown HIV status of a sexual partner that puts the other at risk of HIV transmission – it is whether or not condoms and lube are used.

It’s also worth remembering that condoms and lube should be used every time you have sex, and both sexual partners share the responsibility for keeping themselves and each other safe from STIs. Relying on some to disclose the fact that they are living with HIV is unwise, as not everyone living with HIV is aware of their status.

You can find out more about HIV and criminal prosecutions on our Policy page.

If you or anyone you know is worried about any sexual encounter, the NZAF provide free, confidential testing for HIV, syphilis and other STIs. You can contact the NZAF here, or by calling 0800 80 AIDS (2437).

(NZAF Note - this answer was edited for clarity on 15 May 2010.)

- NZAF official response

Oral sex carries a low risk for HIV infection (unless there is significant broken skin or gum disease present in your mouth). The saliva in your mouth acts as a natural defence to the HIV virus.

Like pre-ejaculatory fluid and semen, vaginal fluids can contain HIV but in moderate amounts. Exposure to menstrual blood, however, is high risk and a dental dam (a small sheet or latex) should be used as barrier.

If you'd like to learn more about how to protect yourself from HIV, please go here.

- NZAF official response

440 members of the African communities have been diagnosed with HIV since 1996, with 29 being diagnosed in 2008. The great majority of these were infected overseas; most were HIV positive before arriving in New Zealand, and travelled to New Zealand as migrants or refugees.

More information about the African Communities in New Zealand and the challenges they face can be found here.

- NZAF official response