How can someone get hiv

HIV is not passed on easily from one person to another. The virus does not spread through the air like cold and flu viruses. HIV lives in the blood and in some body fluids. Other body fluids, like saliva, sweat or urine, do not contain enough of the virus to infect another person. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is HIV? HIV can spread: during sex especially anal sex and vaginal sex through sharing needles for injecting drugs or tattooing by getting stuck with a needle with an infected person's blood on it HIV also can pass from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

HIV does not spread through: pee, poop, spit, throw-up, or sweat as long as no blood is present coughing or sneezing holding hands sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses How Can I Protect Myself? Menu HIV. GOV Search Search. Symptoms of HIV. These fluids are: Blood Semen cum and pre-seminal fluid Rectal fluids Vaginal fluids Breast milk For transmission to occur, the HIV in these fluids must get into the bloodstream of an HIV-negative person through a mucous membrane found in the rectum, vagina, mouth, or tip of the penis ; open cuts or sores; or by direct injection.

Anal sex is riskier than vaginal sex. Less common ways are: From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. Getting stuck with an HIV-contaminated needle or other sharp object. This is a risk mainly for health care workers. The risk is very low. HIV is spread only in extremely rare cases by: Having oral sex.

The risk is extremely small these days because of rigorous testing of the U. As a result, the infection spreads more easily during primary infection than during the next stage. In this stage of infection, HIV is still present in the body and in white blood cells. However, many people may not have any symptoms or infections during this time. This stage can last for many years if you're not receiving antiretroviral therapy ART. Some people develop more severe disease much sooner. As the virus continues to multiply and destroy your immune cells — the cells in your body that help fight off germs — you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:.

Thanks to better antiviral treatments, most people with HIV in the U. When AIDS occurs, your immune system has been severely damaged. You'll be more likely to develop opportunistic infections or opportunistic cancers — diseases that wouldn't usually cause illness in a person with a healthy immune system. If you think you may have been infected with HIV or are at risk of contracting the virus, see a doctor as soon as possible. HIV is caused by a virus. It can spread through sexual contact or blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding.

HIV destroys CD4 T cells — white blood cells that play a large role in helping your body fight disease. The fewer CD4 T cells you have, the weaker your immune system becomes.

To become infected with HIV , infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions must enter your body. This can happen in several ways:. You can't become infected with HIV through ordinary contact. HIV isn't spread through the air, water or insect bites.