HIV and AIDS: Prevention and risks
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How HIV is passed from person to person
HIV can be passed between people when certain body fluids containing the virus get into the bloodstream of another person. These body fluids include:
- blood
- rectal fluid
- vaginal fluid
- semen (including pre-cum)
- breast milk or chest milk
The virus can enter the body through broken skin or by passing through the wet tissues of the body, such as inside the vagina or rectum.
HIV is most commonly passed from person to person through anal or vaginal sex or by sharing needles or other drug use equipment. It can also be passed to a baby during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding or chestfeeding.
HIV is not passed through:
- healthy, unbroken skin
- casual contact, such as:
- kissing
- hugging
- toilet seats
- sharing food
- shaking hands
- mosquito bites
Preventing HIV
Participating in certain activities could increase your chance of getting HIV. Learn more about how to reduce your risk of getting HIV in these situations.
Condoms
The most common way to pass HIV is through sex. Using internal and external condoms can reduce your risk of getting or passing the virus.
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Harm reduction for people who use injection drugs
HIV can be passed through shared equipment used to inject drugs. If you inject drugs, you can reduce the risk of getting HIV by following safer injection practices.
Use new and sterile equipment every time and avoid sharing drug injection equipment.
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Treatment as prevention
HIV can't be passed on through sex when a person living with HIV is on treatment and the amount of HIV in their blood remains very low. "Very low" means less than 200 copies of virus per millilitre of blood measured every 4 to 6 months.
These very low amounts of HIV are undetectable by some HIV tests. That's why it's also called Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
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HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PrEP) is medication you can take if you don't have HIV to help prevent you from getting it. HIV PrEP is available in either pill form or as an injection received from a health care provider.
If you want to take HIV PrEP, talk to a health care provider.
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HIV PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PEP) is medication that you can take after being exposed to HIV to help prevent an infection.
You should start the medication as soon as possible after a potential exposure to HIV, ideally within 72 hours. It involves taking daily pills for 4 weeks. HIV PEP is very effective but won't prevent 100% of HIV infections.
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, immediately contact any of the following to see if they offer HIV PEP:
- sexual health clinic
- health care provider
- hospital emergency room
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Tattooing, body piercings, acupuncture and other procedures
When the skin is pierced, there's a chance of coming into contact with blood. You have an increased risk of HIV exposure if you're getting:
- a tattoo
- acupuncture
- body piercing
- hair removal (electrolysis)
- other procedures that involve breaking the skin
You can reduce your risk by making sure you go to a professional that follows procedures to prevent infection. This includes using new needles and sterile equipment.
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Getting medical or dental care outside of Canada
Getting medical care in some countries can pose a higher risk of getting HIV. This is because the standards for screening blood products or sterilizing medical equipment may be different than in Canada. If you're travelling to another country for medical or dental care, ask if the facility:
- follows proper practices to control infection
- uses blood and blood products screened for HIV and other infections transmitted through blood or sexual activity
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Pregnancy and childbirth
HIV can be passed to a baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, as well through breastfeeding or chestfeeding.
If you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you and your sexual partner(s) should be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. If you have HIV, take your medication consistently to keep HIV levels low. This can reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby.
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Workplace exposure
If your job exposes you to blood or other bodily fluids, you may be at risk for HIV infection. You can reduce your risk by following your workplace's practices and procedures for preventing and controlling infections.
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