HIV & AIDS Health Center
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection - 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:
CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Another name for them is T-helper cells. CD4 cells are made in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus gland, which are part of the lymph or infection-fighting system. CD4 cells move throughout your body, helping to identify and destroy germs such as bacteria and viruses. The CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of your blood drawn by a needle from a vein in your arm. Along with other tests, the CD4 count helps tell...
Read the HIV, AIDS, and the CD4 Count article > >
- 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 or active herpes.
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.
What to think about
HIV may be spread more easily in the early stage of infection, when the first flu-like symptoms of HIV (acute retroviral syndrome) are present, and again later, when symptoms of HIV-related illness develop.
The risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion or organ transplant is extremely low because all donated blood and organs in the United States are screened for HIV.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
