August 2019 Issue #32 August 2019 Issue #32 | Page 150

SEX & Relationship
Getting To The Bottom
Anal sex is a common practice among men who have sex with
men, heterosexual men and women, and transgender individuals
and is a known risk factor for HIV infection and transmission. There-
fore, it is important that education on HIV prevention includes accu-
rate information on the fluids that can transmit HIV through this type
of sex. If one of these fluids is excluded from prevention messag-
ing, it could lead a client to underestimate their risk of HIV transmis-
sion. While there is no doubt that semen, pre-ejaculate (pre-cum),
and blood can contribute to the risk of HIV transmission through
anal sex; it seems there is less clarity among frontline service pro-
viders on whether rectal fluid should also be included on this list.
This article looks at what rectal fluid is, whether or not it can contain
and transmit HIV, and the implications for prevention education.
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