Preventing HIV Infection and AIDS

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is a long-term (chronic) viral infection. HIV kills white blood cells that help to control the body's defense system (immune system) and fight infection. HIV spreads through semen, blood, breast milk, and fluid from the rectum and vagina. HIV is commonly spread through sexual contact and sharing needles or syringes because these behaviors involve exchanging bodily fluids.

Without treatment, HIV can turn into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which is an advanced stage of HIV infection. AIDS is a very serious illness and can be life-threatening.

How can this condition affect me?

• You put yourself at risk of getting HIV from an infected person. HIV is a serious, life-threatening illness that cannot be cured. Having HIV makes it easier to get sick and more difficult to get well.
• You can pass HIV on to others even if you do not know that you have it. For example, an infected mother who does not know she is infected can pass it to her children through pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
• You can have complications from the virus. Without treatment, the virus multiplies in your body. As it multiplies, it causes the immune system to stop protecting you from infections and other health problems. You may get infections that you would not normally get if your immune system was healthy and working properly.
• You put yourself at risk of side effects from HIV medicines (antiretroviral therapy,or ART). HIV medicines can help slow the virus from progressing and prevent its spread to others. People with HIV must take these medicines on a daily basis to live long, healthy lives. However, these medicines have side effects. Long-term use of ART medicines can lead to chronic health conditions, such as damage to the liver and kidneys, diabetes, and heart disease. People who take HIV medicines must use protection during sex because they can still pass the virus on to sexual partners.
• You could also put yourself at high risk for getting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

What can increase my risk?

• You or the person transmitting HIV has a high viral load. Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood of a person who has HIV.
• You have another sexually transmitted disease. You may be more likely to get or transmit HIV.
• You are using alcohol or drugs. Being drunk or high affects your ability to make safe choices, making you more likely to engage in risky behaviors like having sex without protection.
• You use injection equipment—such as needles, syringes, or other injection equipment—that someone with HIV has used.
• You are a male who has sex with males.

What actions can I take to prevent HIV infection?

Sexual contact

To protect yourself from HIV through sexual contact:

• Use devices that prevent bodily fluids from passing between partners (barrier protection) every time you have sex. Barrier protection can be used during oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Commonly used barrier methods include:
  • Male condom.
  • Female condom.
  • Dental dam.
• If you are at risk, ask your health care provider about taking medicine that can prevent HIV infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP).
• Get tested for HIV and know the HIV status of all sexual partners. Avoid having sex with partners without a known HIV status. If you or your partner is HIV-positive, use protection during sex.
• Practice monogamy. This means that you have only one sexual partner at a time.
• Get tested and treated for STIs. Having an STI increases your risk of getting HIV.

The only way to completely prevent HIV from being spread through sexual contact is to not have any kind of sex (practice abstinence), including oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

Drug and alcohol use

• Do not use drugs, especially drugs that are injected.
• Do not have sex while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs can affect your ability to make good decisions and may lead you to engage in high-risk behaviors.
• Do not share needles or syringes with anyone else.
  • Use new, clean syringes and injection equipment every time.
  • If you do share needles or syringes, consider taking PrEP to prevent HIV infection and use bleach to clean the injection equipment.

Blood and bodily fluids

• Cover any sores or wounds on yourself or the person with HIV.
• If you need to touch blood or bodily fluids from an infected person, use gloves and wash your hands afterward.
• Do not share items that touch bodily fluids or blood, such as toothbrushes or razors.

Questions to ask your health care provider

• Should I be tested for HIV?
• Is PrEP right for me?

Where to find support

• Talk with your health care provider.
• Visit your local health department or clinic.
• Consider joining a support group.

Where to find more information

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: hiv.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  • Preventing HIV: www.cdc.gov
  • Finding a location where you can get sexual health materials and treatment for free or for a low cost: gettested.cdc.gov
• World Health Organization: www.who.int

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have flu-like symptoms and you think you may have been exposed to HIV. Ask for a test. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested.

Summary

• HIV spreads through semen, blood, breast milk, rectal fluid, and vaginal fluid.
• HIV is commonly spread through sexual contact and sharing needles or syringes because these behaviors involve exchanging bodily fluids.
• To protect yourself from HIV through sexual contact, use a barrier protection method every time you have sex.
• Avoid having sex while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. These substances may lead you to engage in high-risk behaviors.
• Get tested for HIV and make sure your sexual partners get tested too.