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You can get HIV from...
HIV is found in the sexual fluids of an infected
person. For a man, this means in the fluids which come out of the
penis before and during sex. For a woman, it means HIV is in the
fluids produced by the vagina before and during sex to help make
intercourse easier.
If a man with HIV has vaginal intercourse without a
condom, infected fluid can pass into the woman's blood stream
through a tiny cut or sore inside her body. Such a cut or sore
wouldn't always be visible, and could be so small that the woman
wouldn't know about it.
If a woman with HIV has sexual intercourse without a condom, HIV
could get into the man's blood through a sore patch on his penis or
by getting into the tube that runs down the penis.
If there is any contact with blood during sex, this
increases the risk of infection. For example, there may be blood in
the vagina if intercourse occurs during a woman's period.
Oral sex with an infected partner does carry some
risk of infection. If a person sucks on the penis of an infected
man, for example, infected fluid could get into the mouth. The virus
could then get into the blood if you have bleeding gums or tiny
sores or ulcers somewhere in the mouth.
The same is true if infected sexual fluids from a
woman get into the mouth of her partner.
But infection from oral sex alone seems to be very
rare, and there are things you can do to protect yourself.
If a couple have anal intercourse the risk of
infection is greater than with vaginal intercourse. The lining of
the anus is more delicate than the lining of the vagina, so it's
more likely to be damaged during intercourse, and any contact with
blood during sex increases the risk of infection.
There is a good likelihood of becoming infected with
HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus.
The virus can be passed by sharing needles, syringes, spoons,
filters and water. Disinfecting equipment between use can reduce the
chance of transmission, but doesn't eliminate it.
Some people have been infected through a transfusion
of infected blood. These days, in most countries all the blood used
for transfusions is now tested for HIV. In those countries where the
blood has been tested, HIV infection through blood transfusions is
now extremely rare.
Blood products, such as those used by people with
Haemophilia, are now heat-treated to make them safe.
An infected pregnant woman can pass the virus on to
her unborn baby either before or during birth. HIV can also be
passed on during breastfeeding.
If a woman knows that she is infected with HIV,
there are drugs that she can take to greatly reduce the chances of
her child becoming infected.
Some health-care workers have become infected with
HIV by being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood. A
very few have become infected by HIV-infected blood getting into the
health-care worker's bloodstream through an open cut or splashes
into a mucous membrane (e.g. eyes or the inside of the nose).
There have only been a few documented instances of
patients becoming infected by a health-care worker.
Anything which allows another person's body fluids
to get inside your body is risky. If the equipment is not sterile,
having a tattoo done could carry a very small risk. In the UK, there
are hygiene regulations governing people who do tattoos and
piercings, and all instruments used should be sterile. If you are
thinking of having a tattoo or piercing, ask staff at the shop what
procedures they take to avoid infection. |
