Protection

How can I protect myself and my partner from HIV and stay healthy?

Condoms are still the most effective form of protection against HIV.

You can reduce your risk of becoming infected by practising safer sex and talking to your partner or partners about safe sex. If you are a young person, then delaying sexual activity until you’re older also reduces risks. Being in a steady relationship does not guarantee you or your partner protection, unless you only have sex with each other and never have sex outside the relationship.

You can't catch a sexually transmitted infection unless you have sex (although HIV can be caught through other routes and you can catch STI's and HIV through oral sex), however most people become sexually active at some point so when you do it's important to protect yourself.

To protect yourself and your partner, follow these tips:

Using a condom

• Always use a condom when having vaginal or anal sex. Wearing a condom protects you and your partner from the risk of most sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Always use a condom that carries the British Kite Mark or European CE safety mark. You can get free condoms from a family planning or sexual health clinic.
• Use a water based lubricant with the condom for anal sex
• HIV can be passed on through unprotected oral sex so use a condom to be safe
• If you have sex in groups, then use a new condom with each partner

Using lubricant

• Use a water based lubricant such as K-Y Jelly with condoms which improves comfort and helps to prevent the condom breaking

Where can I get condoms?

Free condoms are usually available from:

• Sexual Health and GUM clinics
  
• Family Planning clinics
  
• Condoms by post
  
• Gay bars and saunas
  
• Needle exchanges
  
• Drug service providers
  
• Colleges and universities

Free condom schemes are often run in health board areas across Scotland and provide an easy way to find local condom distribution points, for example: Lothian C-Card scheme; Lanarkshire C-card; Glasgow and Clyde Free Condoms.

Search our service finder to find a service near you.

Drug use

For every injecting episode use new sterile equipment. Never share needles, syringes or any other drug injecting equipment. The Scottish Drugs Services Directory is made up of local service providers who provide drug treatment and care.