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How Do People Get HIV?
|
Method |
How It Happens |
Protect Yourself |
|
Sex
 |
·
HIV in semen,
blood or vaginal fluids passes between partners through
the thin mucous membranes of the penis, vagina, rectum
or mouth, or through tiny cuts or open sores on these
organs.
·
This can happen
during vaginal, anal or oral sex. |
·
Don’t have sex.
Abstinence is the best way to prevent sexual
transmission of HIV.
·
Be monogamous.
Have sex only with a lifetime partner who does not have
HIV and who only has sex with you.
·
Practice safer
sex. Don’t allow a sex partner’s semen, blood,
menstrual blood or vaginal secretions to enter your
body. |
|
Sharing Needles
 |
·
Needle is shared
to inject drugs, vitamins or steroids, or for tattoos or
piercing.
·
Blood with HIV
is left in the needle or syringe
·
When the needle
is used again, HIV in blood is injected directly into
the next person’s body. |
·
Don’t share
needles for any reason.
·
Don’t inject
drugs.
·
If you inject
drugs, don’t share needles or works. |
|
Mother to Fetus
or Newborn
 |
·
Infected blood
may pass from mother to fetus in the womb or to baby at
birth.
·
HIV may pass to
baby in breast milk
|
·
Consider taking
the HIV test if you are pregnant or thinking about
getting pregnant.
·
Pregnant women
who test positive can take medication to greatly reduce
the risk to the fetus.
|
|
Blood-to-Blood
Contact
 |
·
Infected blood
comes into contact with blood or mucous membranes of
another person
·
Very rarely,
this could happen from a blood transfusion or organ
transplant. |
·
Avoid contact
with someone else’s blood
·
Blood and organs
donated for transplant and semen at sperm banks are all
tested for HIV
·
You may be able
to donate your own blood ahead of time for any planned
surgeries. |
Protect Yourself:
-
Use a new latex condom
and water-based lubricant every time for vaginal or anal
sex.
-
Don’t use oil-based
lubricants.
Hand creams, massage oils, Vaseline, etc. can cause the
condom to break.
-
For oral sex on a woman
or oral/anal sex on a man or woman, use a barrier such as a
latex condom or dental dam. Use a new barrier each time.
-
For oral sex on a man,
use a new latex condom every time.
-
People who are allergic
to latex can use
plastic (polyurethane) condoms. These com in both male and
female styles.
-
Don’t have sex when
you’re drunk or high.
Using alcohol or other drugs affects judgment and can lead
to unsafe sex.
 |
Dispelling the Myths…
HIV is not
passed by:
-
Donating blood
-
Hugging,
Handshakes, Dry Kissing or Sharing Food
-
Telephones, Toilet
Seats, Towels, or Eating Utensils
-
Tears, Saliva,
Sweat or Urine
-
Mosquitoes or Other
Insects
Before 1985, some
people got HIV from infected blood transfusions. Now
the blood supply in the United States is tested. So the
chances of getting HIV this way are very, very small. |
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