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HIV Risk Factors

HIV is transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing hypodermic needles with an infected person, and from an infected mother to her child. HIV is not transmitted through casual contact.

  1. Vaginal and Anal Sex

    • HIV is transmitted through both unprotected vaginal and anal sex. Although both male and female partners can contract the virus through unprotected sex, the "receptive" partner in both vaginal and anal intercourse is at higher risk.

    Oral Sex

    • HIV can also be transmitted through performing oral sex on an infected man or woman without a condom or other barrier, as HIV is found in both semen and vaginal secretions. This is a lower-risk activity than unprotected vaginal or anal sex, but a cut or sore in the mouth can still allow the virus to enter the bloodstream.

    Drug Use

    • People who share hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia for the use of injecting drugs are at risk for contracting HIV. According to Avert, an international AIDS charity, sharing needles and "works"---including syringes, spoons, and blood-contaminated water---is thought to cause people to be three times more likely to transmit HIV than through sexual intercourse. Crack pipes, which can cause burns and sores, are also a possible mode of transmission.

    Mother-to-Child Transmission

    • HIV can be transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus or infant during pregnancy, during labor and childbirth and through breast-feeding.

    Prevention

    • The use of condoms and other barriers during vaginal, anal and oral sex greatly reduces the chances of both contracting and transmitting HIV. Injection-drug users should use clean and unshared needles. A pregnant woman who is HIV positive can take antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to her child, and should not breast feed.

    Testing

    • People who believe they may have contracted HIV should be tested at least one month after the date of the possible infection. This is because most HIV tests screen for the presence of antibodies, and it takes an average of one month for an infected person to develop a detectable number of antibodies. The website HIVTest.org can help you locate a testing center in your area.

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