HIV Transmission
HIV doesn't discriminate. African American, Asian
American, Latino/a, Native American, White, bisexual,
gay, lesbian, straight, female, male, or transgender—anyone
can become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It is
not who you are but what you do that puts you at risk for getting
HIV.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It's caused by a virus
called HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, that weakens the body's immune
system (your defense against infections) so that it loses the ability to
fight off infection and illnesses. Some medicines can lengthen the lives
of people
with AIDS, but there is no cure. The best way to combat
the virus is to keep yourself from getting it.
How can you get HIV?
You can get HIV through direct contact
with blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. You can get the virus
by:
- Exchanging blood, semen,
and vaginal secretions through vaginal, oral, or anal
intercourse with someone who has HIV. During vaginal
intercourse, the risk of becoming infected is higher
for women than men, because HIV is more easily transmitted
from man to woman.
- Sharing needles or syringes
used for injecting drugs, medicine, tattooing, or ear
piercing with someone who has HIV.
- Being born to a mother
who has the virus. (HIV can be passed to a fetus through
the umbilical cord while it is still inside the mother,
through contact with vaginal fluids and blood during
birth or through breast milk.)
You can't get it from:
- Touching, talking to, or
sharing a home with a person who is HIV infected or
has AIDS.
- Sharing utensils, such
as forks and spoons, used by someone with HIV infection
or AIDS.
- Using swimming pools, hot
tubs, drinking fountains, toilet seats, doorknobs,
gym equipment, or telephones used by people with HIV
infection or AIDS.
- Having someone with HIV
or AIDS hug, kiss, spit, sneeze, cough, breathe, sweat,
or cry on you.
- Being bitten by mosquitoes.
- Donating blood in countries
like the U.S. where a new needle is used for every
donor. You do not come into contact with anyone else's
blood. In the U.S., donated blood is always screened
for HIV so the risk of infection from a blood transfusion
is very, very low.
Maybe you have heard the term HIV-positive.
It means that an antibody test has shown that someone has been infected
with HIV. It does not necessarily mean that a person has AIDS right
now.
People with HIV may not know or show that they carry the virus for up to 15
years and possibly longer. They may look, act, and feel healthy, but can still
infect others with HIV through unsafe sex and sharing needles.
You can protect yourself from HIV infection by not having sex or using drugs.
You can lower your risk of exposure to HIV by making smart decisions. If you
choose to have sexual intercourse, you can protect yourself by using latex
condoms. Of course, condoms are also a safe, effective, and inexpensive form
of birth control, so you can protect yourself from unintended pregnancy at the
same time. They also protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
100% Risk Free
Of course, the surest way to avoid the
virus is to choose not to have sexual intercourse—vaginal,
oral, or anal—and not to do drugs. Using any drugs at all,
including alcohol, is risky. Drugs and alcohol cloud your judgment
and may lead you to make unsafe choices.
Safer Sex
There are lots of physical ways
to share love and sexual feelings with your partner that are safe,
such as:
- Hugging.
- Holding hands.
- Touching.
Low Risk Sex
If you do have sex,
it is important to protect yourself and your partner
by:
- Getting tested
for HIV and insisting your partner does the
same, before you have sex.
- Using a latex
condom every single time you have vaginal, oral,
or anal intercourse.
- Using a barrier,
such as a latex dental dam, a cut-open condom
or plastic wrap, for oral sex on a female.
What About Kissing?
There are no reported cases of people getting HIV from
deep kissing. It might be risky, however, to kiss someone
if there is a chance for blood contact—if
the HIV infected person has an open cut or sore in the mouth or on the gums.
It would be even more risky if both people had bleeding cuts or sores. So,
use common sense—wait until any sores or cuts have healed before kissing.
Unsafe Activities
It is never a good
idea to:
- Have vaginal, oral, or
anal sex without using a latex condom.
- Have oral sex on a female without
a latex barrier.
- Share needles, syringes,
or any kind of sharp object for cutting, tattooing,
or piercing.
Remember, preventing HIV takes
action and communication.
Talk to your partner about HIV and safer sex practices.
Love and passion don't protect you. Just knowing and
trusting your partner isn't enough. Use a male or female
condom or latex barrier for every act of vaginal, oral,
or anal intercourse or remain abstinent. Respect yourself
enough to protect yourself!
MORE INFORMATION >>
HIV Infection: Get the Facts ::
HIV Transmission :: HIV
Testing :: Safer Sex & HIV Prevention :: HIV
Hotlines
Updated March 2008
 Send this page to a friend >>
|
