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Great questions, thank you for sharing your experience, very brave of you. Many people practice sexual activities differently and what they're comfortable with. Glad you are thinking about keeping yourself safe. It is true that teens can get STI's even if not practicing vaginal sex. Condoms and Dental Dams are great effective tools to stay safe, and also getting tested regularly. This will help protect against STI's including HIV.

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Hi Dana,

Thanks for messaging us! Lots of people like your friend live happy, regular lives with HIV, but there's lots of options to protect yourself from getting HIV! One idea that we have is to go get tested for HIV! You can also use protection like condoms to lower your chances of getting HIV and other STIs!

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incredible

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Yeah, relationships can be confusing and coming out is a huge step. Engaging in unprotected sex can increase someone's chances of getting a STI like HIV. Here is a list of resources available in your area for STI testing. After getting your results, you have support here if you would like more info on STIs and relationships

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Hello Raymond,

Thank you for your question.
Although the chances of contracting HIV is significant lower if both partners have not previously engaged in any sexual behaviors with other individuals, it is still a good idea to practice safe sex. You can do this by using external or internal condoms, dental dams, and getting tested together before engaging in sexual behaviors in order to know your status.

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@Koko, I’ve heard that young people are at risk for HIV and the number of HIV cases among young people is growing. I don’t want to take any chances of getting HIV. What’s the surest way I can protect myself?

@Charlie

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@Rihanna,

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@Koko, I’m a senior this year and plan to go to college. The other night I went to a party and something happened. I had a couple of beers and then somebody handed me a joint. Everyone else was smoking too. It was powerful stuff! I had never used drugs before. The next thing I knew I was in the bedroom with this basketball player I kind of had a thing for. We ended up having sex, and I don’t even know if we used protection, because I was so high that I forgot to ask. I heard he does this type of thing a lot. Now he barely even speaks to me. I’m afraid that I could have gotten pregnant or gotten infected with an STI like HIV. What should I do?

@Rihanna

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@Carmello,

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It’s like this @Koko, I am fifteen years old, and my girlfriend and I have never had vaginal sex. We do other things, though, including oral sex. Before, we just wanted to make sure that she didn’t get pregnant. We had never really thought about infections like HIV. But now, I hear that teens my age are getting sexually transmitted infections. Is oral sex safe? How do we protect ourselves from STIs?

@Carmello

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@Marcus,

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@Raymond,

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@Koko, five months ago, when I came out on my 16th birthday, I had sex with someone for the first time. We didn’t use condoms. I didn’t really enjoy it, and he never called me again. Now I have a new boyfriend and he wants me to have sex, too. Is it possible that I might have been exposed to HIV when I did it before? I’m anxious that I might be infected with HIV. What do I tell my boyfriend? What should I do? This whole relationship thing can be confusing.

@Marcus

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@Koko, my girlfriend and I have been going out for a year. We really love each other, and both want to have sex. I trust her, but I’m concerned about HIV. My girlfriend and I are 14 years old, and neither one of us has tattoos, and we don’t use drugs. We’ve been thinking about having sex, but only with each other. Do we have to worry about HIV?

@Raymond

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@Dana,

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What’s up @Koko, I recently found out that a friend of mine is HIV positive and that she’s had the virus for years. She’s smart, fun to be around, and has only had sex with two guys her whole life. Now I’m afraid to be with anyone because if someone like her can get HIV, how can I know who’s safe and who isn’t? If she has HIV, then anyone could! I’m scared to date! What should I do?
@Dana