Main points:
- You get a better chance of getting HIV through unprotected sex, especially through receptive anal sex
- Although possible, it is unlikely that vaginal sex will transfer the virus, especially if you are using protection
- You can’t get HIV by cuddling, kissing or biting an infected person
HIV can be one of the more challenging sexually transmitted diseases that someone can get. Although the progress in treatment has ensured that people who are infected with HIV can live for a long time, it often requires constant treatment and vigilance.
So if you can prevent you from getting it, you should do that.
Keep reading to find out more about how HIV sends so that you can better protect your health.
Discover your HIV status from home with one of Better2 Know’s home test kits.
What is HIV?
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that focuses on the immune system – in particular the CD4 cells that help your body fight infections.
If it remains untreated, HIV gradually weakens the immune system, making it more difficult to ward off daily diseases and infections. In the course of time this can lead to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), the stage in which the immune system is seriously affected.
But here is the good news: with early detection and the right treatment, people who live with HIV can lead a healthy life with a normal life expectancy.
How is HIV shipped?
You can get HIV in a few ways – and not just through sex. Below you will find a variety of acts and how likely you are to get HIV from them. All statistics presented here are collected and approved by the Centers for Disease Control in the US.
Sexual acts
The vast majority of HIV infections occur through unprotected sex. But some sexual acts are more risky than others.
((REMARK: The descriptions below describe sexual acts in which the risk is not limited by things such as condom use, male circumcision, anti-troviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis, all of which reduce the chance of transmission.)
Vaginal sex
It is unlikely that it is unlikely that HIV will be transferred.
For every 10,000 exposures, receptive vaginal sex (ie a woman who has sex with an infected man) will only result in round Eight infections.
Insertive vaginal sex (ie a man who has sex with an infected woman) is even less likely, only with 4 out of 10,000 exposures Probably result in infection.
Although vaginal sex remains an unlikely route of transmission, it can be made more likely if the non -infected partner already has an existing Sti -Like Chlamydia or Gonorrhea.
Anal sex
Anal sex is the most important risk of passing on HIV because of the biological structure of the anus and the rectum.
The rectum lining is thin and vulnerable, making it susceptible to tears during sexual intercourse. These tears offer direct access for pathogens such as HIV to enter the bloodstream, especially if the infected person has HIV and receives no treatment.
The risk is different, depending on sexual law and who is infected.
With receptive anal sexual intercourse, 138 of every 10,000 exposures will probably lead to infection. In the insertive anal sexual intercourse, the probability drops to 11 of every 10,000.
Oral sex
Although technically possible, the chance of transferring HIV through oral sex is so low that most health workers negligible risk.
To make the transmission happen, something very unusual should take place. For example, an infected person who, in the mouth of someone with mouth ulcers, bleeding gums or the presence of another STD, can somewhat increase the chances.
Share sex toys
HIV does not survive long outside the human body, which means that the virus is inactive fairly quickly, once exposed to air or surfaces.
However, if the toy is quickly used in succession between partners, especially without cleaning or changing condoms, The virus can still be viable enough to form a risk.
The use of non-porous toys (such as those made from silicone or stainless steel), thoroughly cleaning between the use and use of a new condom for each person are all effective ways to reduce the risk.
Although technically possible, the transfer of HIV was not sufficiently investigated by sharing sex toys and more research into this subject is needed.
Non-sexual actions
Although most HIV infections are the result of sex, there are many documented cases in which people have received HIV through other paths. There are a few here.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Most children who get HIV get it during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. This is known as “perinatal transmission”.
The risk will vary depending on various factors – especially if the mother receives effective treatment. Without any treatment, the risk of transfer during pregnancy is somewhere in between 15% to 45%. With effective therapy, however, the probability can fall less than 1%.
Breastfeeding can result in unique challenges. If a mother receives antiretroviral therapy and maintains a non -detectable viral load, the risk of transmission is also less than 1%. In some cases, health care professionals can recommend formula feeding or donor milk to fully eliminate the risk.
Blood transfusions
Receiving a transfusion of blood infected with HIV is one of the ways with the highest risk to acquire the virus. If the blood is not screened and contains active HIV, the chance of transmission is estimated More than 90%—Nigens, almost guaranteed. This is because the virus is introduced directly into the bloodstream in large quantities and bypass the usual barriers such as skin or mucous membranes.
In countries such as the UK, however, this scenario is extremely rare thanks to rigorous screening protocols. All the donated blood is tested on HIV (as well as other infections such as Hepatitis B And Hepatitis 100) With the help of very sensitive methods such as nucleic acid tests and antibodies. These safety measures have made HIV transfer by blood transfusion that hardly exists in modern health care institutions.
Needles
The chance of HIV transmission of a polluted needle is estimated 0.3% per exposure. This means that for every 1,000 people who experience a Neiglestick injury with HIV positive blood, about three can be infected. Although that may sound low, it is still considered one significant riskEspecially in health care institutions where such exposures occur more often.
Although exact percentages can vary, depending on the context, studies estimate the risk per act of HIV transfer of sharing injection equipment to be nearby 0.63% per exposure. That is more than double the risk of a Neiglestick -in health care. The risk increases if the person with HIV has a high viral load or if the equipment is repeatedly shared.
Corrosive
There have only been a handful of documented cases in which HIV was transferred by biting, and even then it concerned fairly extreme conditions – deep wounds, broken skin and the presence of blood.
To be passed on in this way, there must be a direct route in the bloodstream, usually due to significant tissue damage. So, unless there is serious trauma, the risk is incredibly low.
Spit
Spitting, on the other hand, is no risk at all. HIV is not transferred by saliva, and if the skin is intact, there is no path for the virus to enter the body. This means that daily contact person does not have a real danger when it comes to HIV.
Kissing
There have been some documented cases in which deep, open pillow with open mouth handed open, but this only happened when both partners had blood gums or open swearing in their mouths.
You can’t get HIV from kissing from closed mouth.
What are the risk factors that increase the chance of transfer?
Some risk factors can increase your chance of HIV.
Alcohol and drug use
Consuming alcohol or drugs does not give you HIV alone. However, these substances will affect your inhibitions and judgment and tend to encourage behavior so that you can previously contract the infection, including:
- Engage in unprotected sex
- Share needles for drug use
- Have sex with multiple partners
High viral load
Your viral load refers to how much HIV you have in your blood. Someone with a higher viral load will rather pass on the virus. Antiretroviral treatment will reduce your viral load.
With effective treatment, your viral load can be reduced to non -detectable levels, which means that it will be extremely unlikely that you pass on the infection to a non -infected person.
Other soers
If you still have an STD, it might be more likely to get or pass on HIV. Such STDs include:
Last thoughts
HIV is not a death sentence. With the right treatment you can lead a long and healthy life. But first you have to know if you have it.
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Don’t leave your sexual health to chance.
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