How do you get HIV?

Yes, some types of sex have more HIV risk than others. The best way to protect yourself is to use a condom every time you have anal, vaginal or oral sex. 

No. HIV cannot be passed on in everyday contact with someone who has HIV – for example kissing, hugging, sharing food or through coughs and sneezes. 

HIV can only be passed on through specific bodily fluids so you can’t get HIV from touching someone, hugging them or shaking hands. Because there is such a small amount of HIV in the saliva of a person living with HIV it can’t be passed on by kissing.

Yes. Like most illnesses, HIV doesn’t discriminate between types of people and the infection can be passed on to anyone via one of the ways mentioned above. It’s a common misunderstanding that HIV only affects certain groups. 

While not everyone has the same level of HIV risk, everyone can reduce their risk of infection. 

HIV is most infectious in the first one to four weeks after infection. In the early stages of infection, the amount of HIV in your blood is high so you’re more likely to pass the virus onto others. At this time, many people are unaware of their status which is why it’s a good idea to always use condoms or PrEP to keep you and your sexual partners safe. 

No, HIV is not always passed on from someone with HIV. There are lots of reasons why this is the case. For example, if the HIV-positive person is on effective treatment it will reduce the amount of HIV in their body. If a doctor confirms that the virus has reached undetectable levels it means there is no risk of passing it on. 

If you take PrEP correctly you will also be protected from HIV infection in the case infected fluid enters your body. 

If you’re concerned that you’ve been exposed to HIV you may be able to take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which stops the virus from becoming an infection. However, it’s not available everywhere and has to be taken within 72 hours of possible exposure to be effective.