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