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At risk?

It's important to know how to assess whether you’ve put yourself at risk of being infected with HIV. We can also help you to decide whether you want to be tested for HIV or not.

Need help now - THT Direct 0845 12 21 200

If you think that there's any chance you may have become infected with HIV, then the first question to ask is "What have I done to put myself at risk?" If you're living with HIV, then could you have put someone else at risk?

Here we look at how HIV can be passed on, and how HIV is definitely not passed on. If, after reading this, you are still unsure whether you or a partner are at risk, please phone us at THT Direct (on 0845 1221 200). We can talk to you about your situation and help you to make an informed decision. We can also discuss HIV testing and treatment with you.

How is HIV passed on?

HIV is a virus which exists in certain bodily fluids, including:

  • semen
  • blood
  • pre-cum (the clear fluid that the penis produces for lubrication before ejaculation)
  • breast milk
  • vaginal fluids (including menstrual fluids)
  • the mucous found in the rectum

In order for you to be infected with HIV, one or more of these fluids from someone with HIV must get into your bloodstream.

How does this usually happen?

The most common ways for this to happen are:

  • unprotected anal or vaginal sex (that is, sex without using a condom)
  • sharing a needle with another person, for example when injecting drugs or tattooing
  • when a mother who has HIV passes it to her child, which is usually at birth or by breastfeeding.

If you have done any of these things then you may have put yourself at risk of contracting HIV (or somebody else if you have HIV).

There’s a smaller risk that you will get HIV by unprotected oral sex.

How HIV is not passed on

There’s no risk of HIV being passed on from normal social contact, including:

  • touching a person with HIV
  • kissing
  • sharing towels
  • drinking from the same mug as someone with HIV
  • using swimming pools.

It is not passed on by mosquito or other insect bites, and you can't breathe it in.

Blood transfusions are also safe, as almost all countries now screen blood for HIV before they use it for transfusions.

More information

You can read more about how HIV is transmitted and its signs and symptoms in the Information and resources section of our website.

Things to think about

There are a number of things to think about when you’re considering the risk of HIV:

  • How much do you really know about the HIV status of your partner?
  • How much does your partner really know about their HIV status?
  • Are you comfortable with what you know and don’t know about how HIV is passed on?
  • What type of sex have you had?
  • Are you comfortable with the risks you’re taking?

How an HIV test can help

Before you do anything else it’s better to know the facts. It might be worth thinking about taking an HIV test.

Find out more about:

Immediate treatment

Or, if you’re sure that you’ve put yourself at serious risk, maybe you should look at the possibility of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment. This could stop the HIV from taking a hold in your body if the treatment starts within 72 hours of it getting into your bloodstream.

Find out more about PEP treatment.

THT Publications

More information

Call us at THT Direct on 0845 1221 200 if you want to talk to us about any of these things at any time.