Anyone can get HIV, but you can take steps to protect yourself from HIV infection.
*Get tested and know your partner’s HIV status
Talk to your partner about HIV testing and get tested before you have sex.
*Have less risky sex
HIV is mainly spread by having anal or vaginal sex without a condom or without taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV.
*Use condoms
Use a condom correctly every time you have sex.
*Limit your number of sexual partners
The more partners you have, the more likely you are to have a partner with HIV whose HIV is not well controlled or to have a partner with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Both of these factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission.
Get tested and treated for STDs
Insist that your partners get tested and treated too. Having an STD can increase your risk of becoming infected with HIV or spreading it to others.
*Talk to your health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is an HIV prevention option for people who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV. PrEP involves taking a specific HIV medicine every day.
Don’t inject drugs
Don’t inject drugs but if you do, use only sterile drug injection equipment and water and never share your equipment with others.
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