Transmission and prevention of HIV

Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through sexual behaviors and needle or syringe use. Only certain body fluids—blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk—from a person who has HIV can transmit HIV. These fluids must come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into the bloodstream (from a needle or syringe) for transmission to occur.

  • Undetectable viral load and treatment as prevention
  • The biology of HIV transmission
  • Sexual transmission
  • Medical procedures and other blood-borne exposure
  • Condoms and lubricant
  • Behavior change interventions
  • HIV prevention vaccine
  • Epidemiology and behavior
  • HIV prevention policy