Fingering and fisting

There’s minimal risk from fingering. HIV cannot get into or out of unbroken skin. There would only be a risk if the skin of the finger had on it small cuts or a rash and/or if the inside of the arse was bleeding or damaged (eg, from cuts or infections). Fisting is classed as low risk as it doesn’t involve infected cum getting inside an arse. But fisting can cause anal bleeding which makes the risk higher, especially if you fuck without condoms too.

If the fister has HIV

Fisting is unlikely to pass on HIV as the virus cannot get out through a hand or forearm that has unbroken skin. But if his skin had cuts, sores or inflammation these would give HIV a way out of his body and into the arse being fisted.

If the fister is HIV negative

There’s a risk from HIV in blood (or anal mucus, the slimy lining inside his arse) from the arse of a positive guy. Any cuts, rashes or inflamed skin on the fister’s hand or forearm give HIV a way into his bloodstream through this broken skin.

HIV could get through breaks in the skin that are very small - possibly too small to notice.

Fisters can use latex gloves (with special water-based fisting lube), available from some safer sex organisations or on sale online or in gay sex shops. If gloves aren’t used, the following make cuts and bleeding in the arse less likely:

• keeping nails short
• using lots of lube
• going slowly
• not using poppers (or drugs that mean you won’t feel internal damage)

If a condom’s not used, it’s even more risky to fist, then to fuck an arse. This is because the arse is more likely to be bleeding from the fisting. Fucking first, then fisting is less risky.

Enemas/douching before fisting remove the mucous lining of the arse which protects against infections. Without this protection getting HIV could be more likely.

Fisting can cause serious damage if not done carefully by someone with experience.