What is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life. With proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

How do I know if I have HIV?

The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your HIV status helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Some people have flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after infection (called acute HIV infection). These symptoms may last for a few days or several weeks. Possible symptoms include.

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Rash
  • Fatigue
  • Night Sweats
  • Muscle Aches
  • Sore Throat
  • Swollen Lymph Nodes
  • Mouth Ulcers

But some people may not feel sick during acute HIV infection. These symptoms do not mean you have HIV. Other illnesses can cause these same symptoms. See a health care provider if you have these symptoms and think you may have been exposed to HIV. Getting tested for HIV is the only way to know for sure.

How is HIV passed from one person to another?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life. With proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

What body fluids transmit HIV?

Only certain body fluids from a person who has HIV can transmit HIV. These fluids include: 

  • Semen
  • Breast Milk
  • Vaginal Fluids
  • Rectal Fluids
  • Blood
  • Pre-cum

These fluids must come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into the bloodstream (from a needle or syringe) for transmission to occur. Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, vagina, penis, and mouth.

Can HIV be transmitted from a mother to her baby?

HIV can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. However, it is less common because of advances in HIV prevention and treatment.
This is called perinatal transmission or mother-to-child transmission.

  • Mother-to-child transmission is the most common way that children get HIV.
  • Recommendations to test all pregnant women for HIV and start HIV treatment immediately have lowered the number of babies who are born with HIV.
  • If a mother with HIV takes HIV medicine daily as prescribed throughout pregnancy and childbirth and gives HIV medicine to her baby for 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth, the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby can be less than 1%.
How well does HIV survive outside the body?

HIV does not survive long outside the human body (such as on surfaces), and it cannot
reproduce outside a human host. It is not transmitted:

  • By mosquitoes, ticks, or other insects.
  • Through saliva, tears, or sweat.
  • By hugging, shaking hands, sharing toilets, sharing dishes, or closed-mouth or “social” kissing with someone who has HIV.
  • Through other sexual activities that don’t involve the exchange of body fluids (for example, touching).
  • Through the air.
How can I prevent getting HIV from sex?
Choose Sexual Activities With Little to No Risk

Choose sex that is less risky than anal or vaginal sex. There is little to no risk of getting HIV through oral sex.
You can’t get HIV from sexual activities that don’t involve contact with body fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, or blood).

Use Condoms the Right Way Every Time You Have Sex

Condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), like gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Use water-based or silicone-based lubricants to help prevent condoms from breaking or slipping during sex.

Take PrEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent HIV.

If taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex.
PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken as prescribed.

Decide Not to Have Sex

Not having sex (also known as being abstinent) is a 100% effective way to make sure you won’t get HIV through sex.

You can be abstinent at different times in your life for different reasons that may change over time. Not having sex also prevents other STDs and pregnancy.

Get Tested and Treated for Other STDs

If you have another STD, you are more likely to get HIV. Getting tested and treated for other STDs can lower your chances of getting HIV.

Many people with an STD may not know they have one because they don’t have symptoms.

If Your Partner Has HIV, Encourage Your Partner to Get and Stay in Treatment

This is the most important thing your partner can do to stay healthy.

If your partner takes HIV medicine and gets and keeps an undetectable viral load, there is effectively no risk of you getting HIV from sex with your partner.

Should I get tested for HIV?

CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once. People at higher risk should get tested more often.

What does a negative test result mean?

A negative result doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have HIV. This is due to the window period. If you test again after the window period, have no possible HIV exposure during the window period, and the result comes back negative, you do not have HIV. If you’re sexually active or use needles to inject drugs, continue to take actions to prevent HIV, like taking medicines to prevent HIV if you’re at high risk. If you have certain risk factors, you should continue getting tested at least once a year.

What does an HIV diagnosis mean?

If you receive an HIV diagnosis, it means that you have HIV. Unlike some other viruses, the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely. Once you have HIV, you have it for life. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.


What is HIV treatment?

HIV treatment involves taking medicine that reduces the amount of HIV in your body. HIV medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). There is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, you can control HIV. Most people can get the virus under control within six months. Taking HIV medicine does not prevent transmission of other sexually transmitted disease.