The best way to prevent HIV is to understand how the virus is transmitted and take steps to reduce your risk. If you’re living with HIV, understanding these practices can help prevent transmission to others.
HIV can’t be transmitted through saliva or skin-to-skin contact, such as hugging or shaking hands. The virus can only be transmitted by exchanging certain bodily fluids, including genital secretions and blood.
As a result, transmission most frequently occurs during condomless sex or shared use of syringes and other drug injection equipment.
Adopting certain harm reduction strategies, including safer sex and safer substance use, can help reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus.
“PEP” is an umbrella term for medications used to prevent or control the spread of an infectious condition.
In the case of HIV, PEP consists of a 28-day course of prescription antiretrovirals. These drugs work to prevent the virus from replicating within the body.
Consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible if you suspect that you’ve been exposed to HIV.
Although you have up to 72 hours to begin PEP, the medication is less likely to be effective over time. Additional medication must also be taken consistently and correctly for 28 days.
If you don’t have a primary care doctor or another healthcare professional to reach out to, you may be able to get a prescription for PEP at your local:
- health department
- sexual health clinic
- urgent care center
- emergency room
Unlike PEP for HIV, PrEP can be used as a long-term preventive measure to reduce the risk of infection at any point during use. PrEP can be taken as a daily pill or administered as a bimonthly injection.
Truvada is a once-daily pill available in both brand-name and generic forms. It can help reduce the risk of HIV infection through sexual contact or injection drug use.
Descovy is a once-daily pill that’s only available as a brand-name medication. It can help reduce the risk of HIV infection through sexual contact.
The injectable medication Apretude is only available in brand-name form. It can help reduce the risk of HIV infection through sexual contact.
People of any sex, gender, or anatomy can use Truvada and Apretude. Descovy is only approved for people with male anatomy.
PrEP may be especially beneficial for people who:
- have a sexual partner who’s at risk of HIV or is HIV-positive
- do not know a partner’s HIV status
- have multiple sexual partners
- have sex without condoms or other barrier methods
- use intravenous drugs
According to the
If you don’t have health insurance or are underinsured, you may be able to access free or lower cost PrEP at your local health department or community clinic.
Barrier methods can reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
HIV transmission is
It’s also possible to contract HIV during receptive or penetrative vaginal sex. The risk of transmission is lower during oral sex and manual stimulation.
Depending on your sexual repertoire, you might consider using:
- external condoms, which are worn over a penis or sex toy to provide a barrier during oral or penetrative sex
- internal condoms, which are placed inside the vagina or rectum to provide a barrier during penetrative sex
- dental dams, which are placed over the vulva or anus to provide a barrier during oral stimulation
- gloves, which are used to provide a barrier during fisting or manual stimulation
- finger cots, which are used to provide a barrier during manual stimulation
Rough or vigorous sexual activity can lead to small cuts or tears that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Applying lube can help minimize unwanted friction and, if you’re using a condom, reduce the risk of it breaking or sliding off.
Using shared or otherwise unsterile drug injection equipment can increase your risk of infection and injury.
HIV, for example, can be transmitted through the blood-to-blood contact that occurs when using another person’s needle or syringe to inject an intravenous substance.
Many communities have syringe services programs (SSPs) that provide access to sterile needles and syringes and facilitate the disposal of used materials.
They may also be called syringe exchange programs (SEPs) or needle exchange programs (NEPs).
Some programs offer additional services, such as screening for HIV and hepatitis, treatment for abscesses and wounds, and access to naloxone (Narcan).
You can use the North America Syringe Exchange Network’s online directory to find a free or lower cost program in your area.
Using a new set of equipment every time you prepare, ingest, inhale, or inject drugs is the best way to reduce your risk of infectious diseases. If a new set isn’t available, do what you can to clean what you have.
According to the
- Draw clean water into the syringe until it’s full.
- Tap or shake the syringe for at least 30 seconds.
- Discard the water.
- Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 until the water in the syringe is completely clear and free of blood. You may have to repeat the process two or three times.
- Draw full-strength bleach into the syringe until it’s full.
- Tap or shake the syringe for at least 30 seconds.
- Discard the bleach.
- Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 once or twice.
- Draw clean water into the syringe until it’s full.
- Tap or shake the syringe for at least 30 seconds.
- Discard the water.
- Repeat steps 9, 10, and 11 once or twice to ensure the bleach is completely flushed out.
Healthline does not endorse the illegal use of any substances. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using them.
To learn more about safer injection drug use, check out the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition’s website.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 to connect you with a nearby support group or treatment center. Text your ZIP code to 435748 or call 800-662-4357 to get started.
Getting tested is the only way to know whether you’ve contracted the virus. If you receive a positive result, early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the risk of long-term complications.
Contacting anyone who may have been exposed and advising them to get tested can help prevent further transmission. You can use resources like TellYourPartner.org to send an anonymous message.
If you receive a negative result, ask your healthcare professional when to return for testing. Repeat testing to confirm a negative result after potential exposure may occur at 6 weeks, 3 months, and sometimes 6 months.
Routine screening depends on your individual level of risk or exposure. Your healthcare professional may recommend screening once or more per year.
Sharing your status — whether it’s positive or negative — with new partners can help you each decide what precautions to take during sex or substance use.
Approximately 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV, according to HIV.gov. Of those people, 13% do not know they have it.
HIV may not cause noticeable symptoms until the infection has progressed to an advanced stage. This may take several years after the initial infection occurs.
Getting tested is the only way to know whether you’ve contracted HIV or another STI. There are several ways to incorporate this into your overall wellness routine, including at-home testing and in-person screening.
Many community programs offer free or lower cost testing, preventive medications, and other harm-reduction tools.
Tess Catlett is a sex and relationships editor at Healthline, covering all things sticky, scary, and sweet. Find her unpacking her inherited trauma and crying over Harry Styles on Twitter.