There are plenty of sexual activities that are completely safe. Kissing and caressing present no risk of passing on HIV, for example. A partner masturbating you carries no risk unless there is an open cut, sore or other wound on their hand.

Some activities pose very little risk of passing on HIV themselves, but can carry the risk of doing damage to tissue in the rectum or vagina, which makes other activities riskier. For example, fisting (putting a hand into the rectum or vagina) is very low risk for HIV, but might cause tissue damage – which then increases the risk of infection during anal or vaginal sex if you don’t have an undetectable viral load or don’t use condoms.

It is thought HIV can be transmitted by sharing sex toys, unless they are covered with condoms or disinfected between use with different people. They can also cause tissue damage.

Some of the activities with a low risk of passing on HIV can carry a higher risk of passing on other sexually transmitted infections (see information on STIs in part three).