HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection-What Increases Your Risk

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection - What Increases Your Risk

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection Guide

• Topic Overview
• Health Tools
• Cause
• Symptoms
• What Happens
• What Increases Your Risk
• When To Call a Doctor
• Exams and Tests
• Treatment Overview
• Prevention
• Home Treatment
• Medications
• Other Treatment
• Other Places To Get Help
• Related Information
• References
• Credits

Sexual contact

You have an increased risk of becoming infected with HIV through sexual contact if you:

• Have unprotected sex (do not use condoms).
• Have multiple sex partners.
• Are a man who has sex with other men.
• Have high-risk partner(s) (partner has multiple sex partners, is a man who has sex with other men, or injects drugs).
• Have or have recently had a sexually transmitted infection, such as syphilis or active herpes.

Drug use

People who inject drugs or steroids, especially if they share needles, syringes, cookers, or other equipment used to inject drugs, are at risk of being infected with HIV.

Birth mother infected

Babies who are born to mothers who are infected with HIV are also at risk of infection.

Most children younger than 13 years who have HIV were infected with the virus by their mothers.

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