Research suggests that men who are uncircumcised have a higher risk of contracting as well as passing the virus if they are already HIV positive. For cisgender men, HIV must enter through a cut or abrasion on the penis or through the lining of the foreskin or urethra at the tip of the penis. Second, cisgender women and trans MSM have a much larger surface area of mucosal tissue-the lining of both the vagina and cervix can chafe easily and is rich in immune cells that can be infected by HIV. First, there are more cisgender men than cisgender women living with HIV in the United States. Studies show that HIV-positive cisgender men are much more likely to pass the virus to HIV-negative cisgender women or to transgender MSM through vaginal/frontal intercourse than the other way around. and many other developed nations, it is the second most common mode of sexual transmission (after anal sex among MSM). The situations discussed below assume that the person living with HIV is not undetectable.Ĭondomless vaginal/frontal intercourse is the most common mode of HIV transmission worldwide. However, other very recent studies (HPTN 052, PARTNER, Opposites Attract) show that when a person living with HIV is on treatment and undetectable for at least six months, there is effectively no risk for them to pass the virus. Studies repeatedly show that certain sexual practices are associated with a higher risk of HIV transmission than others. Sexual Transmission of HIV : What Are the Risks?

People who inject drugs are also at significant risk for getting HIV. Transgender women who have sex with men have the highest risk for HIV infection. HIV has also been found in extremely low, non-infectious amounts in other fluids (saliva, tears and urine) but no transmissions through these fluids have been reported to the CDC.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the largest number of new diagnoses in the United States were among men who have sex with men (MSM), which includes gay and bisexual men as well as men who do not necessarily identify themselves in that way. Blacks and Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Sex allows for the exchange of certain body fluids that have consistently been found to transmit HIV: blood, semen, rectal and vaginal secretions. In the United States, sexual contact is the most common way that HIV is passed from person to person. Attend school, church, restaurants, shopping malls or other public places where there are people who are HIV positive.Touch, hug or kiss a person who is HIV positive.Share forks, spoons, knives or drinking glasses with a person who is HIV positive.Share toilets, telephones or clothing with a person who is HIV positive.Eat food handled, prepared or served by a person who is HIV positive.Are near a person who is HIV positive and sneezed.Are bitten by a mosquito or any other bug or animal.Therefore, you are NOT at risk for HIV if you: HIV is not transmitted though saliva, urine, feces, vomit, sweat, animals, bugs or the air. This is mostly a risk for health care workers. From being stuck with a needle or cut with a sharp object that contains HIV-positive blood.However, if the mother is in regular care and on HIV treatment, this risk is reduced to nearly zero. From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.From sharing needles, syringes or other injection equipment with someone who has HIV, while not using PrEP.From condomless vaginal/frontal or anal sex with someone who has HIV, while not using a condom or not using medicines to prevent ( PrEP and PEP) or treat HIV ( undetectable equals untransmittable or U=U).HIV is transmitted through the following body fluids:

Most common route of hiv transmission