WHAT'S MY RISK OF GETTING INFECTED WITH HIV?


Most people know how HIV is transmitted. They also know about safer sex guidelines. However, they may still be exposed to HIV. This can be by accident or because they take part in some risky behavior. They always want to know how likely it is that they got infected with HIV.

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES!

You can't be sure that you're not infected with HIV unless you are 100% certain that you did not engage in any risky behavior and that you were not exposed to any HIV-infected fluids.

The only way to know for sure whether you have been infected is to get tested. You should wait for 2 or 3 months after a possible exposure. Then get an HIV blood test.

You might know that you were exposed to HIV by sharing needles, a work-related accident, or unsafe sexual activity. In these cases, talk to your doctor immediately. Ask whether you can use HIV treatments to prevent infection.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN?
Studies of HIV transmission have calculated the risks of infection. The studies came up with very different rates. For example, one study reported the risk for infection from one episode of unprotected receptive anal intercourse with an HIV-infected partner at 1 in 3,333. Another study said 1 in 50 episodes.

These calculations only give a general idea of risk. They can tell you which activities carry a higher or lower risk. They cannot tell you if you have been infected. If the risk is 1 in 100, for example, it doesn't mean that you can engage in activity 99 times without any risk of becoming infected. You might become infected with HIV after a single exposure. That can happen the first time you engage in a risky activity.

WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE RISKIEST?
The highest risk of becoming infected with HIV is from sharing needles to inject drugs with someone who is infected with HIV. When you share needles, there is a very high probability that someone else's blood will be injected into your bloodstream. Hepatitis can also be transmitted by sharing needles.

The next greatest risk for HIV infection is from unprotected sexual intercourse. Receptive anal intercourse carries the highest risk. The lining of the rectum is very thin. It is damaged very easily during sexual activity. This makes it easier to HIV to enter the body.

WHAT INCREASES THE RISK OF HIV INFECTION?
Syphilis can increase the risk of transmitting HIV. Rates of syphilis are increasing in many parts of the US. People with syphilis probably engage in unprotected sexual activity, so they have a higher than average chance of being infected with HIV. Also, syphilis causes large, painless sores. It is easy for someone to be infected with HIV through syphilis sores. An active case of syphilis increases the amount of HIV in someone's system and can make it easier for them to pass it on to another person.

Several other factors increase the risk of transmitting HIV, or becoming infected. These factors apply to just about every possible way HIV can be transmitted.

• When the HIV-infected person is in the "acute infection" phase, the amount of virus in their blood is very high. This increases the chance that they can pass on the infection. Unfortunately, almost no one knows when they are in this phase of HIV infection. There's no way to tell by looking at them.
• When either person has a weakened immune system. This could be because of a long-term illness or an active infection like a herpes outbreak, syphilis, or the flu.
• When either person has open sores that get exposed to infected fluids. These could be cold sores, genital herpes, mouth ulcers, syphilis sores, or other cuts or breaks in the skin.
• When there is blood present.