How to Prevent HIV

An HIV infection is triggered when HIV in a bodily fluid crosses the body's blood barrier in sufficient quantity. In the United States, the most common modes of transmission of the virus are unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex, sharing hypodermic needles and transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Steps can be taken to prevent all of these forms of transmission.

Things You'll Need

• Condoms
• Clean hypodermic needles
• Antiretoviral drugs

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Instructions

Preventing HIV

• 1

  Use a new condom for every act of vaginal and anal intercourse; condoms are incredibly effective in blocking the the transmission of HIV. Female condoms can be used during vaginal and anal intercourse if a male partner feels uncomfortable with the use of condoms. To learn more about using both kinds of condoms, see Resources below.

• 2

  Use dental dams and condoms for oral-sex acts. Although oral transmission of HIV is unlikely, it is theoretically possible, as in the presence of an open cut or sore in the mouth of one partner. The use of condoms and dental dams during oral sex also protects you from other STDs.

• 3

  Visit the Harm Reduction Coalition's website to locate a sterile syringe exchange program. The use of new hypodermic needles, and not sharing hypodermic needles, is an excellent way to reduce one's risk of contracting HIV.

• 4

  Talk to your doctor to see what you can do as a pregnant woman to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your child. According to Avert, a course of antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and/or administered at the onset of labor is one of the best ways of diminishing the risk of transmission to an unborn child. HIV-positive mothers are also not advised to breastfeed.