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The main way to avoid getting HIV is to use condoms in all types of sexual intercourse, whether anal, vaginal or oral, as this is the main form of transmission of the virus.
However, HIV can also be transmitted by any other activity that facilitates the contact of secretions from an infected person, with the blood of another uninfected person. Thus, some other very important precautions include:
- Do not share needles or syringes, always using new and disposable syringes and needles;
- Do not come into direct contact with other people's wounds or body fluids, gloves should be used;
- Use PrEP if you have an increased risk of exposure to HIV. Better understand what PrEP is and when it should be used.
HIV is transmitted through blood and other body secretions, and it is by avoiding contact with these substances that contamination can be avoided. However, there is also a drug called Truvada, which is indicated to prevent HIV, which can be taken before exposure to the virus or up to 72 hours afterwards. Learn how to use and what side effects of this remedy.
How HIV is transmitted
HIV transmission only occurs when there is direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected individual, and it is not transmitted through kisses or contact with the sweat of an infected individual, for example.
If you get HIV through: | You don't get HIV through: |
Sexual intercourse without a condom with an infected individual | Kiss, even on the mouth, hug or handshake |
From mother to child through childbirth or breastfeeding | Tears, sweat, clothes or sheets |
Direct contact with infected blood | Use the same cup, silverware or plate |
Use the same needle or syringe as an infected individual | Use the same bathtub or pool |
Although HIV is a very contagious disease, it is possible to live, have lunch, work or have a loving relationship with someone infected, as kissing, sharing kitchen utensils or shaking hands, for example, do not transmit HIV. However, if the person with HIV has a cut on his hand, for example, it is necessary to take some precautions, such as not shaking hands or wearing gloves to avoid contact with blood.
See the symptoms and how to get tested for HIV:
Vertical transmission of HIV
Vertical transmission of HIV refers to contamination that passes from the mother with HIV to her baby, whether through the placenta, labor or breastfeeding. This contamination can occur if the mother's viral load is too high or if she breastfeeds the baby.
To avoid vertical transmission of HIV, it is recommended that the mother follow the treatment, even during pregnancy, to decrease her viral load, and it is recommended that she does not breast-feed her baby, and should offer another woman's breast milk, which can be obtained from the human milk bank, or adapted milk.
Learn more about HIV treatment in pregnancy.
Did I get HIV
To find out if you got HIV, you need to go to the infeciologist or general practitioner, approximately 3 months after the relationship, to have a blood test and, if the sexual intercourse happened with a patient infected with HIV, the risk of having the disease is greater.
Thus, anyone who has had any risky behavior and suspects that they may have been infected with the HIV virus should be tested, which can be done anonymously and free of charge, at any CTA - testing and counseling center. In addition, the test can also be done at home safely and quickly.
It is recommended to do the test 40 to 60 days after the risky behavior, or when the first symptoms related to HIV appear, such as persistent candidiasis, for example. Know how to identify the symptoms of HIV.
In some cases, such as healthcare professionals who have bitten themselves with infected needles or for victims of rape, it is possible to ask the infeciologist to take a prophylactic dose of HIV drugs, up to 72 hours, which decreases the risk of developing the disease.