HIV cannot be spread through casual contact like hugs, handshakes, and sharing items in a household with someone who has HIV. However, despite increased public awareness, there remains a lot of confusion about how you can getHIV. For example, most people understand that you can’t get HIV from utensils. But some may still experience a twinge of concern if they learn that the chef of their favorite restaurant has HIV.
It is these doubts, often unspoken, that fuel misconceptions about the disease. These misconceptions, in turn, can alter prevention practices—leading some to overcompensate (such as avoiding drinking fountains) and others to undercompensate (such as"pulling out" before ejaculation).
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How HIV Is Spread
As serious as HIV is,the virus itselfis not all that robust. Unlike the cold and flu viruses, which can be passed through airborne droplets, HIV requires intimate contact and the direct exchange of body fluids.
Exposure to the virus does not mean that an infection will occur. While a single sexual exposure may result in an infection, it often doesn’t. And there are many reasons for this.
In the end, there are four conditions that must be met in order for an HIV infection to occur:
In the United States, infections most commonly occur as the result of vaginal or anal sex with a person who is affected or sharing drug equipment (such as needles or syringes) with a person who is infected.
RecapIn order for an HIV infection to occur, four conditions must be met:There must be body fluids in which HIV can thrive.There must be a sufficient amount of virus in the fluids.There must be a way for the fluids to enter the body;The virus must be able to reach vulnerable cells deep inside the body.
Recap
In order for an HIV infection to occur, four conditions must be met:There must be body fluids in which HIV can thrive.There must be a sufficient amount of virus in the fluids.There must be a way for the fluids to enter the body;The virus must be able to reach vulnerable cells deep inside the body.
In order for an HIV infection to occur, four conditions must be met:
How HIV Cannot Be Spread
Oral sex is unlikely to be a source of transmission. However, ejaculation in the mouth with oral ulcers, bleeding gums, or genital sores can increase the chances of HIV transmission. You can also get other sexually transmitted infections from oral sex.
Similarly, the risk of HIV from organ transplants and blood transfusion is low due to the routine screening of donor organs and the U.S. blood supply. You cannot get HIV fromdonating blood.
RecapHIV cannot be passed through touching, kissing, mosquito bites, public fountains, toilet seats, biting, spitting, touching body fluids, or sharing utensils or personal care items.
HIV cannot be passed through touching, kissing, mosquito bites, public fountains, toilet seats, biting, spitting, touching body fluids, or sharing utensils or personal care items.
If You Think You’ve Been Exposed to HIV
HIV hotlines are used to getting calls from people who are afraid they have beeninfected through casual contact. Perhaps the person was involved in a fight or came into contact with someone who was bleeding. Others may worry about having deep kissed someone who may have HIV.
If there is an actual risk of transmission, the doctor may prescribe a 28-day course of HIV medications known aspost-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If started within 72 hours of a suspected exposure, PEP may be able to avert the infection.
RecapIf you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, immediately contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital or clinic. If needed, a 28-day course of medications called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be prescribed to help avert the infection.
If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, immediately contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital or clinic. If needed, a 28-day course of medications called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be prescribed to help avert the infection.
Summary
HIV is primarily transmitted through anal sex, vaginal sex, and shared needles or syringes. It can also be passed through needlestick injuries in a hospital or from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding. You cannot get HIV from hugging, kissing, sharing utensils, toilet seats, mosquitos, food, or touching body fluids.
Not every exposure results in an infection. For an HIV infection to occur, there must be body fluids in which HIV can thrive, specifically semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, blood, or breast milk. There must also be a sufficient amount of virus in the fluids and a way for the fluids to enter the body and reach vulnerable cells.
If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, you can start a 28-day course of medications called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If started within 72 hours, PEP may be able to avert the infection.
6 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.HIV.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.How Is HIV Transmitted.Njom Nlend AE.Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Through Breastfeeding Improving Awareness and Education: A Short Narrative Review.Int J Womens Health. 2022 May 13;14:697-703. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S330715. PMID: 35601795; PMCID: PMC9114103.National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov.You Can Safely Share…With Someone With HIVCenters for Disease Control.How HIV Spreads.Krakower DS, Jain S, Mayer KH.Antiretrovirals for primary HIV prevention: the current status of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2015;12(1):127-38. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0253-5National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov. HIV Prevention.Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)Additional ReadingHughes A, Alford K.HIV transmission: myths about casual contact and fear about medical procedures persist among older adults.J Soc Work Pub Heal.2017;32(1):49-52. doi:10.1080/19371918.2016.1188743U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for HIV: U.S. preventive services task force recommendation statement. Rockville, Maryland; April 2013.
6 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.HIV.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.How Is HIV Transmitted.Njom Nlend AE.Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Through Breastfeeding Improving Awareness and Education: A Short Narrative Review.Int J Womens Health. 2022 May 13;14:697-703. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S330715. PMID: 35601795; PMCID: PMC9114103.National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov.You Can Safely Share…With Someone With HIVCenters for Disease Control.How HIV Spreads.Krakower DS, Jain S, Mayer KH.Antiretrovirals for primary HIV prevention: the current status of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2015;12(1):127-38. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0253-5National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov. HIV Prevention.Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)Additional ReadingHughes A, Alford K.HIV transmission: myths about casual contact and fear about medical procedures persist among older adults.J Soc Work Pub Heal.2017;32(1):49-52. doi:10.1080/19371918.2016.1188743U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for HIV: U.S. preventive services task force recommendation statement. Rockville, Maryland; April 2013.
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.
HIV.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.How Is HIV Transmitted.Njom Nlend AE.Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Through Breastfeeding Improving Awareness and Education: A Short Narrative Review.Int J Womens Health. 2022 May 13;14:697-703. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S330715. PMID: 35601795; PMCID: PMC9114103.National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov.You Can Safely Share…With Someone With HIVCenters for Disease Control.How HIV Spreads.Krakower DS, Jain S, Mayer KH.Antiretrovirals for primary HIV prevention: the current status of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2015;12(1):127-38. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0253-5National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov. HIV Prevention.Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
HIV.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.How Is HIV Transmitted.
Njom Nlend AE.Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Through Breastfeeding Improving Awareness and Education: A Short Narrative Review.Int J Womens Health. 2022 May 13;14:697-703. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S330715. PMID: 35601795; PMCID: PMC9114103.
National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov.You Can Safely Share…With Someone With HIV
Centers for Disease Control.How HIV Spreads.
Krakower DS, Jain S, Mayer KH.Antiretrovirals for primary HIV prevention: the current status of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2015;12(1):127-38. doi:10.1007/s11904-014-0253-5
National Institutes of Health. HIV.gov. HIV Prevention.Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Hughes A, Alford K.HIV transmission: myths about casual contact and fear about medical procedures persist among older adults.J Soc Work Pub Heal.2017;32(1):49-52. doi:10.1080/19371918.2016.1188743U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for HIV: U.S. preventive services task force recommendation statement. Rockville, Maryland; April 2013.
Hughes A, Alford K.HIV transmission: myths about casual contact and fear about medical procedures persist among older adults.J Soc Work Pub Heal.2017;32(1):49-52. doi:10.1080/19371918.2016.1188743
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for HIV: U.S. preventive services task force recommendation statement. Rockville, Maryland; April 2013.
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