Both partners who participate in unprotected anal sex are at risk for contracting HIV (and other STIs), but the anal receptive partner is at greater risk. This type of sex has the greatest risk of HIV transmission (2). The best way to avoid contracting HIV is to avoid having any type of unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with anyone who is known to have HIV, or whose HIV status is unknown.Įach type of sexual contact carries its own risk of transmission. Having unprotected sex (without a condom or barrier) puts a person at risk for contracting HIV. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to most adults with a basic grasp of sexual education-HIV is often transmitted through sex. Knowing which activities put you at a greater risk for acquiring HIV can help you make the best choices for you. Maternal transmission-from mother to child-is how the infection is spread to infants (2). HIV is often transmitted through sexual activity and drug use in adults in the United States (2). Harboring discriminatory thoughts only perpetuates a fearful stigma against someone with HIV, which only hurts the person who has it. Think of how you interact with the vast majority of people-bodily fluids are not exchanged. While care needs to be taken in some situations-like when having sex or when open injuries are present-this certainly does not mean that it is unsafe to be around people with HIV.
Bodily fluids that can transmit HIV include blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluids (1). HIV is transmitted between humans through the exchange of certain types of bodily fluids. But, if a person does become infected with HIV there are treatments available which can help keep a person healthy. This is often the end stage of an HIV infection, where a person’s body is so immunodeficient that they develop infections, diseases, or cancers and are no longer able to mount a immune defense and fight them off (1). HIV progressively destroys the cellular part of the immune system-particularly types of white blood cells called CD4 cells-which, over time, makes the person become immunodeficient (1).Īs the HIV infection develops in the body, the person will become more and more immunodeficient until they reach a point where they are classified as having Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV causes havoc in a person’s body by weakening their immune system (1). If a person takes a blood test and receives a diagnosis of HIV, then they are HIV positive-if a person does not have HIV, then they are HIV negative. HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
HIV/AIDS are widely known as incurable sexually transmitted diseases, but you might not know the difference between these acronyms and what they stand for.įor simplicity’s sake, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. There is no cure for HIV, but medications are available which can keep the viral load low and even prevent HIV transmission, as well as others which can greatly reduce the risk of contracting HIV.Having unprotected anal sex, penis-vagina sex, and even oral sex (though rarely) can transmit HIV.
Saliva, tears, sneezing, and physical contact cannot transmit HIV.HIV is transmitted through the exchange of certain types of bodily fluids including: blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluids.