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

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.

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.

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

HIV is transmitted through the following activities:

• Unprotected sex – oral, vaginal and anal
• Sharing needle – 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