Frequently Asked Questions - Basics of HIV - Transmission of HIV

HIV is transmitted through the following activities:

Unprotected sex; oral, vaginal and anal
Sharing needles; tattooing, steroid or injection drug use
During pregnancy; birth or breastfeeding from mother to child

Some activities are considered more high risk than others such as, unprotected sex or sharing needles, versus sex with a condom or using a new or sterilized needle. A good way to understand HIV risk is to consider the transmission equation which helps to illustrate what three things are required to potentially transmit HIV.

Examples of what does NOT transmit HIV:

Saliva and tears
Urine
Utensils
Towels or bed sheets
Toilet seats or swimming pools
Coughs or sneezes
Donating blood
Casual contact like kissing, hugging, and touching
Caring for someone living with HIV/AIDS

Which fluids have potential to transmit HIV?

Blood (including menstrual blood)
Pre-cum
Semen
Vaginal fluids
Breast milk
Rectal secretions

What Does NOT Cause HIV Infection?

The following do not transmit the HIV virus:

Saliva and tears (that are not mixed with blood)
Urine (that is not mixed with blood)
Utensils
Towels
Toilet seats
Casual contact like kissing, hugging, and touching
Caring for someone living with HIV/AIDS

What is the HIV transmission equation?

Some activities are considered more high risk than others, such as unprotected sex or sharing needles, versus sex with a condom or using a new or sterilized needle. A good way to understand HIV risk is to consider the following transmission equation which helps to illustrate what three things are required to potentially transmit HIV.

HIV TRANSMISSION EQUATION
BODY FLUID WITH HIGH LEVELS OF HIV		ACTIVITY		DIRECT ACCESS FOR THE VIRUS TO ENTER THE BLOODSTREAM
blood (including menstrual blood) semen pre-cum rectal secretions vaginal fluids breast milk	+	unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse sharing needles mother to child	+	vagina anus urethra in the penis open cuts and sores other mucosal membranes points of needle injection
		=
RISK OF HIV TRANSMISSION

How Can You Prevent Transmission?

Practice Safer Sex

Use latex condoms, female condoms, and latex barriers with water-based lubricants during sex.
Do not use oil-based lubricants, such as baby oil, hand lotion and petroleum jelly. They weaken the condom allowing HIV to pass through.

Safer Injection Drug Use

The best way to reduce the risk of HIV infection is to use clean needles.
Needles and syringes should never be shared.
When new needles are not available, they should be thoroughly cleaned with bleach and water.