How is HIV transmitted?

How Is HIV transmitted:The sexual health guide

HIV is one of the most serious transmittable diseases in the world. Without treatment, it progresses to AIDS, which has been responsible for 40.4 million deaths worldwide.

Luckily, due to advancements in medical treatment, HIV isn’t as dangerous as it used to be, but that doesn’t mean prevention isn’t crucial. That’s why knowing how HIV is transmitted, how to protect yourself from it, and what the symptoms of HIV are, are very important for maintaining a healthy sex life and preventing infection. Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. What HIV is

2. How HIV spreads

3. What causes HIV

4. Protecting yourself from infection

5. Main symptoms of HIV

6. How to treat HIV

What is HIV?

Simply put, HIV (short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is an infectious disease that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system. Left untreated, it can lead to AIDS, which is a serious, debilitating and life-threatening condition. HIV is not just an STI, as it can also be spread in non–sexual ways. Infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, are responsible for around 1-in-7-deaths worldwide.

How is HIV Spread?

Knowing how HIV is transmitted is the first step in staying safe and healthy. HIV infection often occurs when you come into direct contact with certain bodily fluids from an HIV-positive person. The viral load in their blood must be detectable in order for transmission to occur. Fluids that transmit HIV include:

  • Vaginal sex
  • Anal sex
  • Oral sex
  • French kissing when both partners have sores or bleeding gums
  • Sharing sex toys
  • Sharing needles
  • Mishandling used needles
  • From mother to child during childbirth

What are the chances of getting HIV sexually?

We’ve established that HIV is transmissible through various types of sexual acts. But what are the chances of getting HIV sexually? The receiver of unprotected vaginal sex has a likelihood of one transmission per 1,250 exposures, while the penis user's risk is one transmission per 2,500 exposures.

Anal sex is far riskier, with the bottom likely to become infected once every 71 exposures. For tops, circumcised people with penises can be infected once every 909 exposures, whilst people with uncut penises are likely to be infected once every 161 exposures.

In rare cases, HIV is transmitted by giving head if a person with a penis ejaculates into their partner's mouth with mouth ulcers, sores or bleeding gums. However rare, it is still possible.

That’s why the usage of condoms, even when not running the risk of getting pregnant, is so important.

How do people get HIV: the key risk factors

Certain behaviours make you more susceptible to catching HIV, ranging from sexual acts to lifestyle choices. Here are some of the key risk factors:

  • Condomless sex
  • Anal sex, especially bottoming
  • Already having an STI such as syphilis, chlamydia, or HPV
  • Sharing needles

How to protect yourself from HIV

When it comes to preventing HIV through sex, whether it’s penetration, oral sex (cunnilingus and blowjobs) or toy play, the single best way to protect yourself is through wearing both male and female condoms.

Additionally, you should never share needles, test yourself and your partner regularly, and try to limit your sexual encounters to people you trust.

If you're a person with a penis who has unprotected sex with other people who also have penises, it's highly recommended to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is medication that can prevent HIV infection.

The good news is that the NHS offers PrEP for free to eligible individuals. Currently, you can only get PrEP from sexual health clinics. It's not yet available through GPs or community pharmacies.

What are the main symptoms of HIV?

HIV has three distinct stages. It progresses from a flu-like infection to clinical latency (10-15 years) to AIDS (late-stage illness). So what can you expect from stage one? The flu-like symptoms may include:

  • Mouth ulcers
  • Tiredness
  • Muscle aches
  • Chills
  • Rash
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes

If you display any of these symptoms after sex, you should certainly get a test. During the second stage, you may not have any symptoms, but you can certainly transmit the disease. As for stage three, AIDS, the symptoms include:

  • Persistent diarrhoea
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Fevers and night sweats
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Mouth, anus and genital sores
  • Red, pink, brown and purple blotches under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, and eyelids
  • Swelling of the lymph glands

Thankfully, HIV infections that are diagnosed early on rearly leads to AIDS; with the right treatment can help you remain healthy and even help maintain a safe and happy sex life.

When to test for HIV

If you think there is even the slightest chance that you may have been infected with HIV, you should get tested immediately. Regular testing is recommended for people who engage in high-risk behaviours, such as unprotected anal sex, paid sex, or sharing needles.

You can get tested at your GP's office or a sexual health clinic. For more privacy, home testing kits are also available. If a home test is positive, it's crucial to follow up with a healthcare professional for confirmation and further steps.

How to treat HIV

If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, it's crucial to start post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as soon as possible. PrEP is most effective when started within 72 hours of exposure.

While an HIV diagnosis might sound very scary, it's important to know that it's now a manageable condition thanks to antiretroviral medication. With proper treatment, people with HIV can get it under control within six months.

Once diagnosed, people with HIV are advised to take antiretroviral medication. This is usually taken one to four times a day. After about six months of treatment, the amount of HIV in the body (viral load) is usually reduced to undetectable levels. This means that the risk of transmitting HIV during sexual activity is significantly less, especially when combined with condom use and PrEP.

Conclusion

HIV is a serious disease that shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, thanks to medical ingenuity, it's far more manageable than it used to be. With proper prevention and treatment, those who are diagnosed with the disease can still live a long and fulfilling life.

However prevention is key, so remember:

  • Use condoms consistently during sexual activity.
  • Get tested regularly, especially if you engage in high-risk behaviours.
  • Consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you're at high risk.

FAQs

  • How common is HIV today?

Globally, the prevalence of HIV among adults has stabilised at around 0.8% of the global adult population. However, in recent years, the UK has witnessed an increase in HIV diagnoses. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of new HIV infections in the UK rose by 19%.

  • What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV has three stages of infection. HIV refers to the first and second stages. AIDS is the third and final stage of the HIV infection. This third stage comes into play when HIV is left untreated.

  • Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?

No. Saliva does not transmit HIV.

  • Can HIV be passed through French kissing

The chance of getting HIV through French kissing is almost non-zero but could be passed if both partners have mouth ulcers or bleeding gums.

  • Can lesbians get HIV?

Cisgender female-to-female sexual HIV transmission is highly unlikely14,but the risk is theoretically possible through sharing sex toys and oral sex. The risk is far higher for trans women with penises and cis women who have sex with trans women with penises.


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