HIVprevention is about more than just following rules. It’s about knowing the risks and understanding howHIV is transmittedandnot transmitted. It’s about taking that extra step to educate yourself about both new and traditional forms of HIV prevention. Most of all, it’s about knowing yourself.In the end, every person is different. Some people aremore vulnerable to infectionthan others. Others may have specific goals, like starting a family or getting pregnant, that require special considerations and carry different risks.To protect yourself, you need to take an honest look at yourpersonalrisk factors and design anindividualprevention strategy to minimize the risks.This article looks at eight different tools and techniques that you can incorporate into your own HIV prevention strategy.
HIVprevention is about more than just following rules. It’s about knowing the risks and understanding howHIV is transmittedandnot transmitted. It’s about taking that extra step to educate yourself about both new and traditional forms of HIV prevention. Most of all, it’s about knowing yourself.
In the end, every person is different. Some people aremore vulnerable to infectionthan others. Others may have specific goals, like starting a family or getting pregnant, that require special considerations and carry different risks.
To protect yourself, you need to take an honest look at yourpersonalrisk factors and design anindividualprevention strategy to minimize the risks.
This article looks at eight different tools and techniques that you can incorporate into your own HIV prevention strategy.
1
Know the Risks
Start with knowing the basics:
What Is Considered an Open Wound for HIV Transmission?
2
Take PrEP
ThomasThomas / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0
Apretude is a newer PrEP option that does not involve taking a daily pill. It is given as an injection administered every two months to the uninfected partner and has been shown to greatly reduce infection risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all individuals who are sexually active adults and adolescents should be educated about PrEP. PrEP is recommended for anyone more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, including people inserodiscordant relationshipswhen their partner’s viral load is detectable or unknown; people with one of more sexual partners of unknown HIV status; and people who have had a bacterial STI in the past six months.
How Effective Is PrEP at Preventing HIV?
3Get and Stay UndetectableJustin Sullivan / Getty ImagesUndetectable = untransmissible (U=U)is an evidence-based strategy in which people with an undetectableviral loadcannot pass the virus to others.A viral load is a measurement of the amount of virus in a sample of blood. Undetectable means that no virus was detected in the blood sample, which is defined as having under 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.Based on evidence from the PARTNER1 and PARTNER2 studies which ran from 2010 to 2018, you cannot pass the virus to others if youachieve and sustainan undetectable viral load.
3
Get and Stay UndetectableJustin Sullivan / Getty ImagesUndetectable = untransmissible (U=U)is an evidence-based strategy in which people with an undetectableviral loadcannot pass the virus to others.A viral load is a measurement of the amount of virus in a sample of blood. Undetectable means that no virus was detected in the blood sample, which is defined as having under 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.Based on evidence from the PARTNER1 and PARTNER2 studies which ran from 2010 to 2018, you cannot pass the virus to others if youachieve and sustainan undetectable viral load.
Get and Stay Undetectable
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Undetectable = untransmissible (U=U)is an evidence-based strategy in which people with an undetectableviral loadcannot pass the virus to others.
A viral load is a measurement of the amount of virus in a sample of blood. Undetectable means that no virus was detected in the blood sample, which is defined as having under 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.
Based on evidence from the PARTNER1 and PARTNER2 studies which ran from 2010 to 2018, you cannot pass the virus to others if youachieve and sustainan undetectable viral load.
4
Use Condoms
There is no reason to be lax when it comes to condoms. Short of abstinence,internalandexternal condomsare still the most reliable means of preventing pregnancy, HIV, and othersexually transmitted diseases (STDs). No other preventive strategy can do all three.
5Conceive SafelyYagi Studio / Getty ImagesIn nearly half of all couples living with HIV, one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative.With advances in HIV therapy, serodiscordant couples today have a greater opportunity than ever to conceive—enabling pregnancy while minimizing the risk of transmission to a partner without HIV.In fact, the combination of PrEP and an undetectable viral load should all but ensure protection against transmission in serodiscordant relationships.Getting Pregnant When One of You Has HIV
5
Conceive SafelyYagi Studio / Getty ImagesIn nearly half of all couples living with HIV, one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative.With advances in HIV therapy, serodiscordant couples today have a greater opportunity than ever to conceive—enabling pregnancy while minimizing the risk of transmission to a partner without HIV.In fact, the combination of PrEP and an undetectable viral load should all but ensure protection against transmission in serodiscordant relationships.Getting Pregnant When One of You Has HIV
Conceive Safely
Yagi Studio / Getty Images
In nearly half of all couples living with HIV, one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative.
With advances in HIV therapy, serodiscordant couples today have a greater opportunity than ever to conceive—enabling pregnancy while minimizing the risk of transmission to a partner without HIV.
In fact, the combination of PrEP and an undetectable viral load should all but ensure protection against transmission in serodiscordant relationships.
Getting Pregnant When One of You Has HIV
6Avoid Mother-to-Child TransmissionWIN-Initiative / Getty ImagesThe prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV involves all stages of pregnancy. Due to the routine screening of HIV during pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission is uncommon in the United States. Even so, it still occurs.By placing the mother on antiretroviral therapy early in the pregnancy, the risk of transmission is extremely low. Even if treatment is started later in the pregnancy, the overall risk is still less than 2%.Since HIV can be found in breastmilk, nursing should also be avoided.
6
Avoid Mother-to-Child TransmissionWIN-Initiative / Getty ImagesThe prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV involves all stages of pregnancy. Due to the routine screening of HIV during pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission is uncommon in the United States. Even so, it still occurs.By placing the mother on antiretroviral therapy early in the pregnancy, the risk of transmission is extremely low. Even if treatment is started later in the pregnancy, the overall risk is still less than 2%.Since HIV can be found in breastmilk, nursing should also be avoided.
Avoid Mother-to-Child Transmission
WIN-Initiative / Getty Images
The prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV involves all stages of pregnancy. Due to the routine screening of HIV during pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission is uncommon in the United States. Even so, it still occurs.
By placing the mother on antiretroviral therapy early in the pregnancy, the risk of transmission is extremely low. Even if treatment is started later in the pregnancy, the overall risk is still less than 2%.
Since HIV can be found in breastmilk, nursing should also be avoided.
7
Avoid Sharing Needles
The rate of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) is high. Studies suggest that anywhere from 20% to 40% of PWIDs are infected due to the shared use of needles or syringes.
And, it’s not only PWIDSs who are at risk. Their sexual partners may also be at risk, particularly if they are unaware of their partner’s drug use.
8
Prevent HIV After an Exposure
Hero Images / Getty Images
If you believe you have beenexposed to HIV, either through condomless sex or other high-risk activities, you can take a 28-day course of HIV drugs to potentially avert the infection.
SummaryToday, HIV prevention takes many forms. Depending on your individual risk factors, you may benefit from using one to several of these:Internal or external condomsUsing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you don’t have HIVMaintaining an undetectable viral load if you have HIVStarting HIV therapy if you are pregnantAvoiding breastfeeding if you have HIVAvoiding shared needles or syringesUsing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if accidentally exposed to HIVEducation is also key. The more that you know about HIV and how to avoid it, the better protected you will be.
Summary
Today, HIV prevention takes many forms. Depending on your individual risk factors, you may benefit from using one to several of these:
Education is also key. The more that you know about HIV and how to avoid it, the better protected you will be.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Patel P, Borkowf CB, Brooks JT, Lasry A, Lansky A, Mermin J.Estimating per-act HIV transmission risk: a systematic review.AIDS. 2014;28(10):1509–1519. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000000298HIV.gov.Pre-exposure prophylaxis.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first injectable treatment for HIV pre-exposure prevention.Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Yah CS, Simate GS, Hlangothi P, Somai BM.Nanotechnology and the future of condoms in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.Ann Afr Med. 2018;17(2):49-57. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_32_17Muessig KE, Cohen MS.Advances in HIV prevention for serodiscordant couples.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014;11(4):434-446. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0225-9DHHS Panel on Treatment of Pregnant Women with HIV Infection and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission.Recommendations for the use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women with HIV infection and interventions to reduce perinatal HIV transmission in the United States.Strathdee SA, Stockman JK.Epidemiology of HIV among injecting and non-injecting drug users: current trends and implications for interventions.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2010;7(2):99-106. doi:10.1007/s11904-010-0043-7Mir MU, Akhtar F, Zhang M, Thomas NJ, Shao H.A meta-analysis of the association between needle exchange programs and HIV seroconversion among injection drug users.Cureus.2018 Sep;10(9):e3328. doi:10.7759/cureus.3328Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L.Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2014;6:147-158. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585Additional ReadingBaeten J, Donnell D, Ndase P, et al.Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women.NEJM.2012;367(5):399-410. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1108524Rodger A, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet.2019 May 2; pii: S0140-6736(19)30418-0. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L. Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS(Auckl). 2014;6:147-58. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Patel P, Borkowf CB, Brooks JT, Lasry A, Lansky A, Mermin J.Estimating per-act HIV transmission risk: a systematic review.AIDS. 2014;28(10):1509–1519. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000000298HIV.gov.Pre-exposure prophylaxis.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first injectable treatment for HIV pre-exposure prevention.Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Yah CS, Simate GS, Hlangothi P, Somai BM.Nanotechnology and the future of condoms in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.Ann Afr Med. 2018;17(2):49-57. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_32_17Muessig KE, Cohen MS.Advances in HIV prevention for serodiscordant couples.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014;11(4):434-446. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0225-9DHHS Panel on Treatment of Pregnant Women with HIV Infection and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission.Recommendations for the use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women with HIV infection and interventions to reduce perinatal HIV transmission in the United States.Strathdee SA, Stockman JK.Epidemiology of HIV among injecting and non-injecting drug users: current trends and implications for interventions.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2010;7(2):99-106. doi:10.1007/s11904-010-0043-7Mir MU, Akhtar F, Zhang M, Thomas NJ, Shao H.A meta-analysis of the association between needle exchange programs and HIV seroconversion among injection drug users.Cureus.2018 Sep;10(9):e3328. doi:10.7759/cureus.3328Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L.Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2014;6:147-158. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585Additional ReadingBaeten J, Donnell D, Ndase P, et al.Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women.NEJM.2012;367(5):399-410. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1108524Rodger A, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet.2019 May 2; pii: S0140-6736(19)30418-0. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L. Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS(Auckl). 2014;6:147-58. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Patel P, Borkowf CB, Brooks JT, Lasry A, Lansky A, Mermin J.Estimating per-act HIV transmission risk: a systematic review.AIDS. 2014;28(10):1509–1519. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000000298HIV.gov.Pre-exposure prophylaxis.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first injectable treatment for HIV pre-exposure prevention.Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Yah CS, Simate GS, Hlangothi P, Somai BM.Nanotechnology and the future of condoms in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.Ann Afr Med. 2018;17(2):49-57. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_32_17Muessig KE, Cohen MS.Advances in HIV prevention for serodiscordant couples.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014;11(4):434-446. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0225-9DHHS Panel on Treatment of Pregnant Women with HIV Infection and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission.Recommendations for the use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women with HIV infection and interventions to reduce perinatal HIV transmission in the United States.Strathdee SA, Stockman JK.Epidemiology of HIV among injecting and non-injecting drug users: current trends and implications for interventions.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2010;7(2):99-106. doi:10.1007/s11904-010-0043-7Mir MU, Akhtar F, Zhang M, Thomas NJ, Shao H.A meta-analysis of the association between needle exchange programs and HIV seroconversion among injection drug users.Cureus.2018 Sep;10(9):e3328. doi:10.7759/cureus.3328Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L.Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2014;6:147-158. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585
Patel P, Borkowf CB, Brooks JT, Lasry A, Lansky A, Mermin J.Estimating per-act HIV transmission risk: a systematic review.AIDS. 2014;28(10):1509–1519. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000000298
HIV.gov.Pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first injectable treatment for HIV pre-exposure prevention.
Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet. 2019;393(10189):2428-2438. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0
Yah CS, Simate GS, Hlangothi P, Somai BM.Nanotechnology and the future of condoms in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.Ann Afr Med. 2018;17(2):49-57. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_32_17
Muessig KE, Cohen MS.Advances in HIV prevention for serodiscordant couples.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014;11(4):434-446. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0225-9
DHHS Panel on Treatment of Pregnant Women with HIV Infection and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission.Recommendations for the use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women with HIV infection and interventions to reduce perinatal HIV transmission in the United States.
Strathdee SA, Stockman JK.Epidemiology of HIV among injecting and non-injecting drug users: current trends and implications for interventions.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2010;7(2):99-106. doi:10.1007/s11904-010-0043-7
Mir MU, Akhtar F, Zhang M, Thomas NJ, Shao H.A meta-analysis of the association between needle exchange programs and HIV seroconversion among injection drug users.Cureus.2018 Sep;10(9):e3328. doi:10.7759/cureus.3328
Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L.Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2014;6:147-158. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585
Baeten J, Donnell D, Ndase P, et al.Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women.NEJM.2012;367(5):399-410. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1108524Rodger A, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet.2019 May 2; pii: S0140-6736(19)30418-0. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L. Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS(Auckl). 2014;6:147-58. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585
Baeten J, Donnell D, Ndase P, et al.Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women.NEJM.2012;367(5):399-410. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1108524
Rodger A, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al.Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study.Lancet.2019 May 2; pii: S0140-6736(19)30418-0. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0
Sultan B, Benn P, Waters L. Current perspectives in HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.HIV AIDS(Auckl). 2014;6:147-58. doi:10.2147/HIV.S46585
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
