It's much less likely than when you have anal or vaginal sex. However, condoms should be used to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Yes. Either partner can get it from the other, but ther person being penetrated is at higher risk.Īnd while condoms work to protect you if they stay in place, they're more likely to break during anal sex.It is smart to use a condom-safe lubricant (that is not oil-based) to reduce friction and the risk of condoms breaking.Īgain, effective antretroviral therapy in the HIV-infected partner will reduce the chances of passing HIV. However, even when HIV drugs are used, use a condom to cut your chances of the virus passing between you, as well as getting any other sexually transmitted infections. Women are at higher risk if they are the one being penetrated.Įffective HIV drugs (antiretroviral therapy) will greatly reduce the chances that an HIV infected person can give HIV to their partner in this way. The virus can get into men through the opening of their penis or through a small cut or sore on it. Women can get HIV through the tissue that lines their vagina and cervix. And even though they might have a trace of blood, there have been no reported cases of HIV from vomit or pee. From Someone's Tears, Sweat, Vomit, or Pee? No, the virus doesn't travel through air. HIV isn't spread through saliva.īut if you kiss someone who's infected and has bleeding gums or sores, you could get the virus if you also have cuts or sores around or in your mouth - because of the blood-to-blood contact. It's possible, but it hardly ever happens. HIV is only spread through specific body fluids: blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid (secreted from penis before ejaculation), vaginal and rectal fluid, and breast milk. In fact, it's a lot harder to catch. You can only get it when certain fluids from someone who's infected get into your body. It's true that HIV is a virus, like a cold or the flu - but it doesn't spread the same way. Still, some people may not be sure exactly what's safe and what's not.

We've come a long way from the days when people were so worried they might catch HIV that they avoided people with it altogether.

Hiv transmission