Ways of getting HIV
Someone can get HIV through body fluids of people who already have HIV. HIV can be transmitted through:
- semen;
- vaginal fluid;
- blood;
- breast-milk.
Infected semen, vaginal fluid and blood from the menstrual period can enter your body via the mucous membrane of the anus, glans of the penis, vagina and mouth.
Infected blood can reach your blood directly by sharing used injection material or through blood transfusion. Transmission through blood transfusion almost never happens in Europe, because the blood is tested for HIV.
Lastly, HIV can be transmitted through breast-milk when breast-feeding.
HIV cannot be transmitted through saliva.
Infected semen, vaginal fluid and menstrual blood can enter your body via the mucous membrane of the anus, glans of the penis, vagina and mouth.
HIV can be transmitted through blood, for example, by sharing used injection material.
HIV can be transmitted through breast milk when breast-feeding.
Someone can get HIV through sex and through other ways of transmission.
Transmission through sex
- Through vaginal sex or anal sex without a condom with someone who has HIV.
- There is only a very small risk of getting HIV through oral sex (if semen or blood from a person with HIV gets into your mouth and you have broken skin there).
With the right treatment, an HIV-positive person is unable to transmit HIV when having sex without a condom.
Ways of HIV transmission: vaginal sex without using a condom
Ways of HIV transmission: anal sex without using a condom
Ways of HIV transmission: oral sex without using a condom
Transmission in other ways
- From mother to child during pregnancy or delivery or when breast-feeding. With the right treatment, women with HIV can have healthy children.
- By sharing used injection material with someone with HIV.
- Through blood transfusion. This almost never happens in Europe, because the blood is tested for HIV.
Ways of HIV transmission: from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery or when breast-feeding
Ways of HIV transmission: by sharing used injection material
No transmission through social contact
You cannot get HIV through social contact. For instance: by sharing a glass or plate with someone, by touching someone or by kissing or giving someone a French kiss.
It is not possible to know if someone has HIV by looking at him/her.
No HIV transmission: sharing a glass or plate
No HIV transmission: touching or shaking hands
No HIV infection: kissing each other or giving a French kiss
Protection against HIV
People with HIV can infect other people if they do not get treatment. Many people do not know they have HIV. Protect yourself and use condoms during sex.
Condom