HIV is passed on through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, anal mucus and breast milk, if the person with HIV has a detectable viral load. It’s not passed on by spitting, sneezing, coughing, sweating or through urine.

How is HIV transmitted?
If someone with HIV has a detectable viral load, they can pass on HIV through the following body fluids:
blood
– semen (including pre-cum)
– vaginal fluid
– anal mucus
– breast milk.

People can get HIV through:
– vaginal/frontal and anal sex without a condom
– sharing drug injecting equipment
– sharing sex toys
– mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy
– coming into contact with contaminated blood.
Most activities pose no risk of getting or passing on HIV.

HIV cannot be passed on by:
– kissing
– hugging
– shaking hands
– sharing space with someone
– sharing a toilet
– sharing household items such as cups, plates, cutlery, or bed linen
– any other general social contact.

How long can HIV survive outside the body?
Once outside the body, HIV usually can’t survive for very long. Coming into contact with blood or semen that has been outside the body doesn’t generally pose a risk for HIV transmission.
Similarly, the risk of passing on HIV to someone else if you have a detectable viral load and cut yourself is also very low. Wash away any blood with soap and hot water and cover the wound with a sticking plaster or dressing.

How do you get HIV from semen or vaginal fluid?
Body fluids including semen and vaginal secretions can contain HIV. If a person has HIV and a detectable viral load, HIV can be passed on to someone if their semen or vaginal secretions get into the body of a sexual partner during vaginal or anal sex.
If a man has HIV and a detectable viral load, one of his body fluids where the virus is found is his semen.
If he has a detectable viral load and his semen gets into the body of his sexual partner during sex, then HIV can get into the other person’s bloodstream.
Pre-cum also contains HIV – this is why there is a risk of infection even if a man pulls out of his partner before he ejaculates.
If a woman has HIV and she has a detectable viral load, one of her body fluids where the virus is found is in her vaginal secretions.
If these come into contact with a penis during sex, then HIV could be transmitted. The virus in her secretions can enter through the delicate skin of the penis or foreskin.

Do condoms stop HIV being passed on?
Yes. Using a condom correctly prevents contact with semen or vaginal secretions (and blood), stopping HIV from being passed on. The virus cannot pass through the latex of the condom.
Condoms should only be used with a water-based lubricant as oil-based lube weakens them.
People with HIV who are on effective treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV through any of their body fluids.
It’s also important to remember that if you have sex without a condom other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be passed on too.
Sex without a condom can also result in pregnancy if other contraception method is not being used.

Mother-to-child transmission
This is now extremely rare in Greece because the following medical interventions reduce the risk of mother-to-baby transmission to below 1%:
– Mother under treatment (if she is not already doing so).
– She may be offered a Caesarean birth if her viral load is detectable.
– The baby is given a course of HIV treatment for the first few weeks.
– The mother does not breastfeed.

How could you get HIV from contact with blood?
The risk of HIV transmission through blood comes when the person has a detectable viral load and their blood enters another person’s body or comes into contact with a mucous membrane. These are parts of the body with wet, absorbent skin such as the:
– eyes
– vagina
– head of the penis
– inside of the anus
– mouth.
– nose
There’s also a risk if blood from a person who has a detectable viral load comes into contact with a cut or broken skin, giving HIV a way through the skin and into someone’s bloodstream. If blood gets into skin that isn’t broken, there is no risk.
In a medical setting, it’s possible for HIV to be transmitted by someone accidentally cutting themselves with a blade or needle they have used to treat a person living with HIV.
This is called a needlestick injury. The risk of being infected in this way is very low. However, if someone thinks they have been exposed to HIV through a needlestick injury, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may be an option.

How to be safe when coming into contact with infected blood
A condom will act as a barrier against any contact with blood during sex.
As well as sex, sharing equipment for injecting drugs (including steroids) is a way blood can get into someone’s body. This can be avoided by using fresh needles and not sharing needles, syringes and other equipment.
If a woman has HIV, her menstrual blood also carries a risk of transmission if she has a detectable viral load.
If you’re HIV negative and taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) you’ll be protected against getting HIV if you come into contact with infectious blood.

What should I do if I need to clean up blood?
HIV does not usually survive long outside of the body, but contact with blood (especially on broken skin) should be avoided.

Hepatitis C can survive in dried blood at room temperature for several weeks, and hepatitis B can survive in dried blood for around a week outside the body.
To clean up blood that has been spilled, wear rubber gloves and mop up the liquid using bleach and warm water (one part bleach to 10 parts water). Use warm, soapy water to clean away blood spilled on someone’s body.
Put the waste, used gloves and bloodied clothes in a plastic bag, seal and throw away.

Can you get HIV from a blood transfusion?
Receiving a blood transfusion or other products made from blood is safe in Greece as all blood products have been screened for infections such as HIV.
In countries that don’t have strict checks on the safety of their blood supply, receiving contaminated blood can pass the virus on. This can also happen in countries that don’t screen other blood products, organs or sperm.
Giving blood has never been a risk.