HIV infection is passed only through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast
milk. The main risks of infection include having unprotected sex and sharing
needles or equipment for injecting drugs (see Question “How
can I have sex more safely?” and Question “Are
there risks of getting HIV if I drink or use drugs?").
You can get infected if you do the following (with someone
who is HIV positive or whose HIV status you do not know):
- have vaginal or anal intercourse without a latex or polyurethane condom
- have oral sex without protection during which semen, vaginal fluid or menstrual
blood enters open cuts or sores in your mouth, even those that you might not
notice.
You can also get infected if you share (with someone who is
HIV positive or whose HIV status you do not know):
- needles or any equipment for injecting any kind of drug. Invisible amounts
of blood are transmitted through sharing needles, syringes, water for diluting,
cotton filters, straws or pipes.
- unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing, acupuncture, or used ink
for tattooing (see Question “How
do I know if tattooing or piercing will be safe?”)
- sex toys, razors or toothbrushes.
What are other ways I can get infected?
- An HIV positive woman can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy,
at birth or through breast feeding (see Question “Does
HIV gets passed to the baby during pregnancy?”).
- You could have been infected by receiving a blood transfusion or blood
product in Canada before 1986. Since then, blood screening has made the risk
of infection very low.
Remember, behaviours and activities that put you at risk for HIV infection
also put you at risk for infection by other viruses. Also, activities that are
considered to be low-risk for HIV infection can be high-risk for other sexually
transmitted infections, like hepatitis or herpes.
You CAN NOT get infected by:
- casual, everyday contact
- shaking hands, hugging, kissing
- coughs, sneezes
- giving blood
- swimming pools, toilet seats
- sharing eating utensils, water fountains
- mosquitoes, other insects, or animals.
You also cannot get infected if you and your partner do not have HIV and you
have unprotected sex only with each other. Remember, the only
way to know for sure that you do not have HIV is to get tested (see Questions
“Should
I get tested for HIV?" and “How
do I get tested for HIV?”).
Additional resources:
What
do I need to know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs*)?
For more information, contact your local
AIDS service organization or health care practitioner.
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