HIV Transmission

HIV Transmission

People who have HIV can give it to others when certain of their body fluids (blood, semen ["cum"], vaginal fluids, or breast milk [for infants only] pass into another person's body. There are three main ways that our body fluids can get into another person's body:

• by having unprotected sex (sex without a condom), that involves anal, vaginal or oral penetration;
• by sharing "works" (needles and syringes, cookers, cottons and water) when injecting drugs or other substances;
• from a mother to her child before birth, during birth, or while breast-feeding. (The chance of having a healthy baby can be greatly increased with proper medical care, so talking about this with a health care provider can be very helpful.)

Kissing, mutual masturbation, and getting another person's semen/cum or vaginal fluids on your skin do not spread HIV. The HIV virus cannot enter through the skin unless there is a fresh break in the skin. There is no scientific evidence that HIV is passed through saliva, tears, or sweat.

There is absolutely no danger from casual contact with people with HIV. HIV cannot live outside of the human body, so you cannot be infected from toilet seats, phones, or water fountains. The virus cannot be transmitted in the air through sneezing or coughing. You cannot get it from mosquitoes or other insect or animal bites. Living with an HIV-infected person does not put you at risk, unless you have unprotected sex or share needles with him or her.

Blood transfusions and medical procedures in the U.S. are safe. Giving blood is completely risk-free. And although there have been some cases of HIV through blood transfusions in the past, tests have been in place for several years to make sure that the blood you get in the hospital has no HIV.