HIV transmission
Passing the virus
HIV transmission is the passing of human immunodeficiency virus from one person to another.
The virus spreads through specific bodily fluids—blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.
The most common routes are unprotected sex, sharing needles, and mother-to-child during birth or breastfeeding.
Condoms significantly reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Casual contact like hugging, kissing, or sharing dishes does not transmit HIV.
- condomsContraceptive barrier device
- needle sharingUsing another's injection equipment
- blood transfusionInfusing donated cells intravenously
- semenMale reproductive secretion
- viral loadPathogen count in body
HIV testing · sexual practices · stigma · mother to child · immune response · healthcare access · breastfeeding · acute infection · substance use · organ transplantation · window period · discrimination · gender inequality · unprotected sex · socioeconomic status · genetic mutations · bodily fluids · criminalization
- Addiction Harmsaddiction, overdose, dependence, dependency, withdrawal
- HIV/AIDSHIV, AIDS, AIDS crisis, AIDS quilt, antiretrovirals
- addictionaddiction, drug addiction, substance abuse, drug dependence, substance dependency
- death causescause of death, natural causes, manner of death, accidental death, natural death
- Transfusion Reactionstransfusion reaction, allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, delayed reaction, crossmatch
HIV transmissionHIV prevention
Blocking AIDS virus transmission
infection control · safer sex · safe sex · protected sex · harm reduction
HIV transmissionnatural immunity
Acquired resistance through exposure
transmission, transmit, transmits, transmitted, transmitting, transmissible, transmittable, transmitter, transmitters