How HIV is Transmitted
There are a number of ways that HIV can be transmitted. While research and development on the human immunodeficiency virus continue to show more possible ways of transmitting HIV, only several have proven to be true.
- HIV is most commonly transmitted through direct contact with or entrance into a person’s bloodstream. The two most reported cases of HIV transmission are having sexual intercourse with HIV-infected partners and injecting infected needles used by an HIV-infected person.
- During sex, HIV is transmitted through men’s and women’s sexual fluids. Men can transmit HIV in both pre-ejaculation and ejaculation stages. Women transmit HIV through the fluids secreted from her vagina during sex. Having cuts or open wounds inside or close to the vagina increases the risk of getting HIV.
- Sexual fluids can enter the bloodstream through oral sex. When oral sex is performed on an infected man, his sexual fluids can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums and ulcers of the mouth.
- There is also a greater risk of getting HIV through anal sex because the lining of the anus is easily scratched and bruised therefore making sexual fluids to be easily passed on.
- Infected needles and syringes used as drug paraphernalia come in direct contact with a person’s bloodstream, making it the second most common form of HIV transmission.
- HIV is also transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. There have been small traces of HIV found in the saliva of infected persons but it has not yet been considered as a possible way of transmission.
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