The Basics of HIV Prevention

HIV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, vaginal, fluid, or breast milk of a person infected with HIV.

 

The most common way to get HIV is by having unprotected sex with a person who has HIV.  (Unprotected sex means not using a condom.)  Another common way to get HIV is by sharing drug injection equipment (such as needles and syringes) with a person infected with HIV.

 

To reduce your risk of HIV infection, use condoms correctly every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex.  Do not inject drugs.  If you do, use only clean needles and equipment and don't share your equipment with others.

 

Treatment with HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART for short) helps people with HIV live longer, helathier lives.  Although ART can reduce the risk of HIV transmission, it's still important to use condoms during sex.