Anyone can get HIV, but certain populations are at greater risk. There are, however, a number of ways to reduce your risk, and certain medicines and precautions can prevent the spread of the virus.
BloodSemen (“cum”)Pre-seminal fluid (“pre-cum”)Rectal fluidsVaginal fluidsBreast milk
An infected mother to her infant through pregnancy, birth, or breastfeedingOral sex, especially if it involves ejaculation in the mouthInfected blood from mouth sores and bleeding gums, such as through “deep” open-mouth kissing, biting that breaks the skin, and eating food that’s been prechewed by an HIV-positive personHIV-contaminated needles and objects that puncture the skin, especially needle-stick injuries in the healthcare settingBlood and clotting factor transfusions, and organ and tissue transplants (because of comprehensive testing, this is mostly an issue outside the United States)
RELATED: 8 Things Your Doctor Wants You to Do to Protect Against HIV Truvada and Descovy are both pills that combine the medicines emtricitabine and tenofovir. When taken every day as directed, they have been found to be 99 percent effective in preventing sexual transmission of HIV. It can be difficult, though, for some people to stick to a daily regimen. If you’re HIV-positive, taking ART as directed decreases the amount of the virus in your body, what’s known as viral suppression. Sometimes the viral load is so low, even HIV tests don’t detect it. Being virally suppressed or having an undetectable viral load helps prevent the spread of HIV and is known as “treatment as prevention.” Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro.
