HIV/AIDS: What Raises Your Risk

What Increases Your Risk

Most people get HIV by having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. Another common way of getting the virus is by sharing needles with someone who is infected with HIV when injecting drugs.

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 disease, such as syphilis.

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.

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