WHAT’S MY RISK OF GETTING INFECTED WITH HIV?

WHAT’S MY RISK OF GETTING INFECTED WITH HIV?

Most people know how HIV is transmitted (see fact sheet 150). They also know about safer sex guidelines (see fact sheet 151). However, they may still be exposed to HIV. This can be by accident or because they take part in some risky behavior. When this happens, they always want to know how likely it is that they got infected with HIV.

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES!

You can’t be sure that you’re not infected with HIV unless you are 100% certain that you did not engage in any risky behavior and that you were not exposed to any HIV-infected fluids.

The only way to know for sure whether you have been infected is to get tested. You should wait for 3 months after a possible exposure. Then get an HIV blood test (see fact sheet 102).

You might feel that you have been exposed to HIV by sharing needles, an accident, or unsafe sexual activity. In these cases, talk to your health care provider immediately . Ask whether you can use HIV treatments to prevent infection. Fact sheet 156 has more information on "post-exposure prophylaxis."