Transmission & Prevention 

HIV is transmitted through:

• Blood (including menstrual blood)

• Semen ("cum") and other male sexual fluids ("pre-cum")

• Vaginal fluids

• Breast milk

If you’re pregnant and living with HIV, the virus in your blood could pass into your baby’s body during birth or afterward through breastfeeding. Taking HIV treatment and adhering to it eliminates this risk.

HIV is not transmitted through:

• Being a friend to someone who is living with HIV

• Hugging

• Dancing

• Sharing food or drinks

• Using a shower, bath, or bed used by a person living with HIV

• Kissing (between people with no significant dental problems, such as bleeding gums or open sores)

• Sharing exercise equipment or a swimming pool

• Sweat

• Tears

• Saliva (spit)

• Urine (pee)

• Feces (poop)

The most common ways in which HIV is passed from one person to another are:

1. Unprotected/unsafe sex (no condoms or other barriers, or treatment-as-prevention methods)

2. Mother-to-child (during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding)

3. Re-using and sharing needles and other drug equipment ("works") for injecting drugs (including steroids or hormones)

Having unprotected sex can lead to unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.  

Condoms are the best way to prevent this, so it is important that you know how to use them correctly. If you take alcohol or drugs, be aware that they may cause you to make decisions that you wouldn’t normally make.