Vaginal and frontal sex
You have sex with cis men, trans men, sometimes cis women. (A cisgender person has a gender identity that matches their biological sex-for example, someone who was assigned male at birth and feels he is a man.)
For vaginal or frontal sex, just like for anal sex, use one or more prevention methods to reduce the risk of transmission, whether you’re using a flesh cock or a strap-on. For example, use a condom or PrEP. Also, remember that a cis woman or a trans man may be able to get pregnant.
Here are a few tips:
- If you’re going from anal penetration to frontal or vaginal penetration, or vice versa, change condoms each time.
- If you’re sharing sex toys or strap-ons, use a new condom each time or make sure to clean them carefully.
- If you’re doing penetration after genital surgery, going pee after penetrating or being penetrated, or leaving space for urine at the tip of the condom, can help reduce the risks of STTBI’s.
- Use lots of lubricant to facilitate penetration and prevent irritation.
- Avoid sharing hormone (or drug) injection needles. Sharing equipment carries a high transmission risk for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
- If your body can get pregnant (if you haven’t had a hysterectomy and your partner produces sperm, whether or not you’re on testosterone), condoms, some contraceptive pills (without estrogen), or a copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) may help reduce the risk of pregnancy.
- If you’ve been exposed to a pregnancy risk, you can take emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) for 72 hours following penetration with ejaculation.
Learn more
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- Check out the Guide HoT, a tool for trans men and transmasculine people in Québec who have sexual or romantic relationships with other men (gay or bi). Created by the organization RÉZO (In French only).
- You can also see the PRIMED2 guide, made in Ontario for trans men who love men.
- Contact ASTTeQ, Action Santé Travesti(e)s & Transexuel(le)s du Québec.
If you like having sex with cis women or trans men, here are a few tips for having vaginal, frontal or anal sex.
If you like having sex with cis women or trans men, here are a few tips for having vaginal, frontal or anal sex.
You’ve surely heard that vaginal or frontal penetration comes with a lower HIV risk than penetrating an ass without a condom. But in fact, once is enough. The virus can be present in your partner’s vaginal or frontal secretions and can enter your body through the opening at the tip of your penis. Cis women and trans men are different from one another. They engage in a variety of sexual activities that may also expose them to the risk of HIV infection or other STBBIs. Talk about it together.
- Condoms are always an excellent way to protect against HIV and other STBBIs, as well as preventing unwanted pregnancy.
- Respect your partner’s rhythm (listen, communicate) to avoid causing bleeding or micro-tears in the vagina, frontal hole or anus.
- Use gloves to prevent viruses and bacteria from transmitting through bleeding, blood, vaginal, frontal or anal secretions, wounds or cuts (on the fingers or hands).
- Taking hormones (such as testosterone), menopause and other situations may cause dryness in the front hole or vagina. Use a lubricant that’s compatible with the condom or gloves you’re using. Don’t hesitate to reapply often!
- Use lots of lubricant for anal penetration to facilitate penetration and prevent irritation and injury. To lower the risk of transmitting viruses and bacteria, don’t share lubricant between holes or between partners.
If you practice pulling out before ejaculating to prevent pregnancy, the risk of pregnancy is still present, because your precum contains sperm. Talk about it with your partner to learn whether she’s already using a contraceptive method, such as the contraceptive pill or an IUD. In all cases, condoms provide the best protection for preventing pregnancy, HIV and other STBBIs.
If your partner lives with HIV and is not taking treatment or does not have an undetectable viral load, PrEP can be a good way to protect yourself against HIV infection. If you’re HIV-positive and your partner is HIV-negative, effective anti-HIV treatment can reduce your viral load to the level where HIV can’t be sexually transmitted. Talk about it with your doctor.