Can You Get HIV from

How You Can and Cannot be infected with HIV

Ever had a cold and no-one wants to go near you in case they catch it? Well, like a cold, HIV is a virus, but you can’t become infected with it in the same way. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

For many years now, there has been a lot of publicity and education work undertaken to teach people the ways in which they might be at risk of HIV transmission. In spite of this, some of the messages have been mixed and occasionally contradictory, and there is still some confusion about what is safe and what is not. This section will clear up some of the myths.

Many people are concerned about whether certain situations could result in someone becoming infected. Worries about the possibilities of infection lead to people with HIV being very isolated and sometimes resulted in prejudice and paranoia. HIV is a virus that is found in blood and other body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. It can’t live for long outside the body, so to be infected with HIV you need to allow some body fluid from an infected person to get inside your body.

The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are:

  • by having sexual intercourse with an infected partner


You can get HIV from…

Vaginal sex


If a man with HIV has vaginal intercourse without a condom, infected fluid can pass into the woman’s blood stream through a tiny cut or sore inside her body. Such a cut or sore wouldn’t always be visible, and could be so small that the woman wouldn’t know about it.

If a woman with HIV has sexual intercourse without a condom, HIV could get into the man’s blood through a sore patch on his penis or by getting into the tube that runs down the penis.


Oral sex




Anal sex

If a couple have anal intercourse the risk of infection is greater than with vaginal intercourse. The lining of the anus is more delicate than the lining of the vagina, so it’s more likely to be damaged during intercourse, and any contact with blood during sex increases the risk of infection.

Injecting drugs

There is a good likelihood of becoming infected with HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus. The virus can be passed by sharing needles, syringes, spoons, filters and water. Disinfecting equipment between use can reduce the chance of transmission, but doesn’t eliminate it.

Blood transfusions


Blood products

Blood products, such as those used by people with Haemophilia, are now heat-treated to make them safe.

Mother to child transmission



Infection in the health-care setting

Some health-care workers have become infected with HIV by being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood. A very few have become infected by HIV-infected blood getting into the health-care worker’s bloodstream through an open cut or splashes into a mucous membrane (e.g. eyes or the inside of the nose).


Tattoos / piercings

Anything which allows another person’s body fluids to get inside your body is risky. If the equipment is not sterile, having a tattoo done could carry a very small risk. If you are thinking of having a tattoo or piercing, ask staff at the shop what procedures they take to avoid infection.

You can’t get AIDS from…





Sneezing, coughing, sharing glasses/cups, etc



You also can’t be infected in swimming pools, showers or by sharing washing machines or toilet seats.




Injecting with sterile needles

Drug use with sterile works will not transmit HIV either, as long as clean works are used every time – this means needle, syringe and spoon, water and filters. There are still many other risks associated with injecting drug use. And, if you are on drugs, even alcohol, this may cloud your judgment and make you more likely to become involved in risky sexual behaviour – it’s harder to make the effort to use a condom when you’re off your head.

Protected sex

Condoms, if used correctly and consistently, are highly effective at preventing HIV transmission. There are myths saying that "some very small viruses can pass through latex" – this is not true.

Anal sex is not necessarily a risk if unbroken condoms are used and there is no blood-to-blood contact. You can’t "create" HIV by having anal sex.

Note: This information is cross-posted and slightly adapted from in order to emphasize some aspects refering particulary to Moldova. For more details, visual adds, updated information and primary sources, please visit web page.