You can get HIV only by coming into direct contact with certain body fluids from a person who has HIV and a detectable viral load. These fluids include:
- Blood
- Semen (cum) and pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
- Rectal fluids
- Vaginal fluids
- Breast milk
For transmission to occur, the HIV in these fluids must enter the bloodstream of an HIV-negative person through mucous membranes (found in the rectum, vagina, mouth, or tip of the penis), open cuts or sores, or by direct injection (such as sharing needles)
. The most common ways people get HIV are:
- Having anal or vaginal sex without protection (condoms or HIV prevention medication) with someone who has HIV
- Sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment with someone who has HIV
- From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding
HIV is not spread through saliva, sweat, tears, urine, casual contact like hugging or shaking hands, or through air
. There are rare cases of transmission through oral sex, deep open-mouth kissing (if both partners have sores or bleeding gums), or severe biting with blood exposure, but these are extremely uncommon
. Blood transfusions or organ transplants are very unlikely sources today due to rigorous testing
. In summary, HIV transmission requires contact with specific infected body fluids entering the bloodstream or mucous membranes, primarily through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or mother-to-child routes
