Frequently Asked Questions

How is HIV passed on?

In the UK there are three main ways in which HIV can be passed on:

By having vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has HIV.
By sharing needles, syringes or other drug-injecting equipment with someone who is HIV+
From a woman with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, at birth or through breast-feeding.

You cannot get HIV through:

kissing, touching, hugging, shaking hands, sharing crockery and cutlery coughing or sneezing, contact with toilet seats, insect or animal bites, swimming pools, eating food prepared by someone with HIV

Is it safe to give blood?

Donating blood in the UK is completely safe. All equipment is sterile and used only once. If you go to give blood, staff will ask you questions to assess whether you may have come into contact with HIV. If you think you might have been at risk, they will ask you not to give blood.

What about having sex abroad?

Many people work, travel or take holidays abroad. No matter where you are, or how prevalent the virus is in the country you're visiting, the main ways of passing on HIV are the same. It's important to plan ahead.
You might end up having sex, so always take a supply of quality condoms and water-based lubricants with you.

What about skin piercing?

Anything that punctures the skin, including tattooing, acupuncture needles and equipment for ear-piercing or removing hair by electrolysis, could pass on HIV and other infections. Reliable practitioners will use disposable equipment or sterilise theirs before use. Ask if you are unsure.

What are the riskiest kinds of sex?

Vaginal and anal sex without a condom carries the highest risk. HIV can be passed on to either partner - male or female, active or passive - during penetrative sex without a condom.

How important are condoms?

Condoms provide a very protective barrier against HIV. Condoms also protect against other sexually transmitted infections as well as unintended pregnancies.

Is it safe to receive blood?

As an additional safety measure, all blood or blood products, organs and tissues for transplant in the UK are screened for antibodies to HIV. Blood products are also heat-treated

Can I get HIV from being treated by my doctor/dentist?

Doctors, dentists and other health-care workers use routine precautions when dealing with patients to prevent any risk of infection.

What is safer sex?

In terms of protection against HIV, a simple way of understanding safer sex is to see it as any sex that does not allow an infected partner's blood, semen, or fluid from the vagina to get inside the other partner's body.
Some kinds of sex - such as kissing or masturbation - carry no risk of HIV.

How safe is oral sex?

Oral sex is where one partner uses their tongue or mouth to stimulate their partner's genitals. Oral sex is much less risky than vaginal or anal sex without a condom.
This risk can be reduced by:

Avoiding getting semen in the mouth, particularly if there are any cuts, sores or ulcers in the mouth.
Using a condom for oral sex with a man, perhaps a flavoured one.