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How is HIV transmitted from one person to another?
HIV is most commonly spread by coming into direct contact with blood, semen or vaginal fluids
during unprotected sex with an infected partner. HIV is also frequently spread among injection
drug users by the sharing of needles or syringes contaminated with very small quantities of blood
from someone infected with the virus.
The HIV virus can enter the body through a vein (e.g., injection drug use), the lining of the
vagina, vulva, penis, the anus or rectum, the mouth, as well as other mucous membranes (e.g.,
eyes or inside of the nose), or cuts and sores. Intact, healthy skin is an excellent barrier
against HIV and other viruses and bacteria.
Here are a few of the body fluids proven to spread HIV:
- Blood
- Semen
- Vaginal fluid
- Breast milk
Here are a few of the body fluids where HIV is present in
negligible/small quantities but pose minimal or no risk:
- Saliva (only found in minute amounts in a very small number of people).
Although researchers have found HIV in the saliva of infected people, there is
no evidence that the virus is spread by contact with saliva. Laboratory studies
reveal that saliva has natural properties that limit the power of HIV to infect.
Research studies of people infected with HIV have found no evidence that the virus
is spread to others through saliva by kissing.
- Tears (scientists have found no evidence that HIV is spread through tears)
- Blister fluid
You CAN get the virus by:
- Having unprotected sexual contact (anal, vaginal, or oral sex) with someone
whose HIV status is unknown
- Coming in contact with blood, semen and vaginal secretions through vaginal,
oral or anal intercourse with someone who has HIV, whether they’ve been diagnosed
with it or not. During vaginal intercourse the risk of becoming infected is higher
for women than men because HIV is more easily transmitted from man to woman. Having
a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydial infection,
gohorrhea or bacterial vaginosis appears to make people more susceptible to getting
HIV infection during sex with infected partners
- Sharing needles or syringes (or injection equipment) 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 after birth. Approximately one-quarter to
one-third of all untreated pregnant women infected with HIV will pass the infection to
their babies. If an infected mother takes the drug AZT during pregnancy, she can
significantly reduce the chances that her baby will be infected with HIV. If health
care providers treat mothers with AZT and deliver their babies by cesarean section,
the chances of the baby being infected can be reduced to about 1 percent
You can protect yourself from HIV infection by making smart decisions about sex and drugs.
Some things are very risky to do, some less risky, and some are 100 percent safe. Of course,
the surest way to avoid the virus is to choose not to have sexual intercourse – vaginal, oral
or anal – and not to use illegal drugs.
If you choose to have sexual intercourse, select your partner wisely and protect yourself by
practicing safer activities and/or use high quality latex condoms. Condoms are also a safe,
effective and inexpensive form of birth control, so you can protect yourself from an unwanted
pregnancy at the same time. They also protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, STDs.
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