HIV can be transmitted only through certain body fluids:

blood, semen, vaginal fluids, anal fluids/mucus, and breast milk.

You can contract HIV if the virus enters your

body through mucous membranes like the vagina, the rectum, the opening of the penis.

It can also enter the body through cuts or sores on your skin.

Most commonly, HIV is spread through:

• Unprotected anal and vaginal sex
• Shared needles or syringes, such as contaminated drug equipment

The risk of acquiring HIV depends on the type of sexual activity.

Unprotected receptive anal sex (bottoming)

is the highest-risk sexual behaviour.

This is because rectal tissue is thin and fragile and tearing occurs easily.

An incentive partner (or top) can also get HIV

through the urethra at the tip of the penis or through cuts or sores on the penis.

Pregnant women with HIV can pass HIV to their baby

during pregnancy, labour, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Taking HIV medicine helps lower the risk of

mother-child transmission and keep both the mother and baby healthy.

You can’t get HIV from:

• Saliva, tears, or sweat
• Closed-mouth kissing
• Using a toilet
• Close contact like hugging or holding hands
• Coughing or sneezing
• Mosquitoes

Who Is At Risk?

Anyone can get HIV, regardless of 

sexual orientation, gender, race, or age. 

That being said, gay and bisexual men are the population

most affected by HIV, making up more than half of the people living with HIV.

The CDC recommends that sexually active men who have sex with men

get tested at least once a year for HIV.

You may be at increased risk of getting HIV if you have:

• Risky, unprotected vaginal or anal sex without a
• condom, especially with a partner that has a high viral load
• Shared needles, syringes, or other equipment for drug injection
• Sex with multiple partners
• Sex while high from drugs or intoxicated
• Other STDS

How Long Does It Take for HIV to Develop into AIDS?

Without treatment, it usually takes about 8–10

years to develop AIDS after initial HIV infection.

It can advance slower or quicker

depending on factors like age and general health.

HIV treatment makes it possible to slow down the

progression, and some people can live with HIV without ever developing AIDS.

This is why getting tested for HIV and knowing your status is so crucial.

Is HIV/AIDS Fatal?

Untreated HIV develops into AIDS, which eventually leads to death.

HIV itself does not kill most people, but it compromises

the immune system so that people with HIV/AIDS are

more likely to die from pneumonia, diarrhoeal illnesses, brain infections, or certain tumors such as cervical lymphoma.

Without treatment, people with AIDS generally survive for about 3 years. 

But having HIV is not a death sentence, thanks to modern medicine. 

It is very important you seek treatment if you know

you have HIV/AIDS so that you can manage the virus.

Proper medication lowers the amount of HIV in the body and slows the virus’ progression.

Types of HIV

There are two main types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2.

As with other viruses, HIV has different strains and variants.

While HIV-1 and HIV-2 are different, both can lead to AIDS. HIV-1 is the most common type and accounts for around 95% of infections worldwide.

HIV-2 is not commonly seen outside of West Africa, but it has been seen in other places.

HIV-2 is generally less infectious and takes longer to progress to AIDS compared to HIV-1.

Is There a Cure for HIV?

No, once you have HIV, it is a lifelong infection.

That being said, people living with HIV can take medicine

to reduce the amount of virus in the blood and other bodily fluids.

This medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART),

and it helps you suppress the virus and stay healthy for many years.

In fact, by following treatment, it is possible to achieve an

undetectable viral load, meaning that viral

levels are so low that tests can’t detect it.

People with an undetectable viral load have

effectively no risk of spreading HIV to partners during sex.

How Do You Prevent HIV?

Condoms and Lubricants

You can lower your risk of getting or spreading HIV by

using latex or polyurethane condoms correctly every

time you have sex.

Water- or silicone-based lubes can

help prevent condom breakage and torn tissue during sex.

Since condoms are not 100% effective,

other prevention methods can further lower your risk.

PrEP

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

It is a pill taken daily by mouth that can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading.

The CDC reports that PrEP is highly effective,

reducing the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%

and reducing the risk for people who inject drugs by at least 74%.

PEP

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis.

It is an antiretroviral medicine (used to treat HIV),

and it is taken only in emergencies after being potentially

exposed to the virus (for example, if the condom broke,

you shared needles or drug equipment, or were sexually assaulted).

PEP must be started as soon as possible, within 72 hours (3 days) of a possible HIV exposure.

Every hour counts, so the sooner you start PEP, the better.

Lower Risk Sexual Activities

Certain behaviours like oral sex have little to no risk of HIV transmission.

However, oral sex can spread other STDs like

herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea,

so it’s recommended to use protection like condoms and dental dams.

Being in a mutually monogamous relationship with

someone who has tested negative or limiting your

amount of sexual partners can also lower your chances of getting or spreading HIV.

By talking openly with partners and getting tested for HIV, you can protect your health.

Getting tested for HIV is the only way to know

for sure if you have it. If you do, knowing

your status can help you get the support and treatment.

The proper care and medicine can keep an HIV-positive person healthier and prolong their life.

For More Information On This Subject

Go Here :Sexual Health Matters