Fewer Sexual Partners
The more sexual partners someone has during their lifetime, the higher the probability of HIV infection. Therefore having fewer sexual partners is an important preventive change of behavior. Abstinence till you find the right partner is the best way to prevent HIV infection.
The recommendation to reduce the number of partners has a caveat. Actually, the only risk of catching the HIV infection is when your sexual partner is HIV infected. For the so-called at risk groups: e.g. prostitutes, homosexuals, iv-drug-dependents, or humans who originate from an area with high HIV prevelence (e.g. Sub sahara Africa) the risk of an HIV infection is larger than for the average population. However two young people have no risk of HIV infection, if neither have had sexual contacts. Only, as always the younger a person begins sexual relations and the more partners he has until he finds a stable partner, the higher the risk of HIV infection.
Source: HIV/Aids – Aktuell (Dr. med. Kurt April)
©Translation: AIDS Information Switzerland
Last updated: November 2009
