Can I Get HIV If I’m a Top?

Is it safer or is that a myth?

Diane Anderson-Minshall

Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.

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Diane Anderson-Minshall

December 09 2016 12:36 PM EST

July 23 2019 3:22 AM EST

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Actually, there's some truth to the assumption that "tops" (that is the insertive partner in anal or vaginal sex) get HIV less. The insertive partner in both anal and vaginal sex is indeed less likely to contract HIV. In the case of two men having anal sex, "tops" have 86 percent reduction in HIV transmission, according to a 2012 study.

But, even if you're much less likely to get HIV by being on top during anal sex, that means men who top can still get HIV from condomless sex unless they are on PrEP or their partner is HIV-negative or HIV-positive and virally supressed by medication.