You could become infected with HIV if:

Either or both are true:

  • You have unprotected anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV.

  • You are a person who injects drugs.

AND

Any of the following are true:

  • You have multiple sex partners.

  • You have sex partner(s) whose HIV status is unknown.

  • You’ve shared needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.

  • You’ve exchanged sex for drugs or money.

  • You have had another sexually transmitted disease.

  • You have hepatitis or tuberculosis.

Factors that increase your risk of getting or transmitting HIV:

Viral Load:

The viral load is the amount of HIV in a person’s blood. The higher someone’s viral load, the more likely they are to transmit HIV.

Other STD’s

Other STD’s like HPV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis can increase your risk of getting and transmitting HIV. If you are sexually active, test for STD’s regularly and follow through on the treatment.

Alcohol & Drug Use:

Alcohol and drug use can lead to riskier sexual behaviors. If you know that you’ll be drinking or using drugs, bring a condom so that you can reduce your risk.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention