HIV and AIDS

• Signs and symptoms
• Getting it
• Testing, diagnosis & treatment
• Sex and staying safe

Getting it

There are four main ways to get HIV:

• By having vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom with someone who has HIV.
• By using needles, syringes or other drug injecting or tattooing equipment that is infected with HIV.
• From a woman with HIV to her baby (before or during birth) and by breastfeeding.
• By receiving infected blood, blood products or donated organs as part of medical treatment in a country where these are not tested. In the UK all blood, blood products and donated organs are tested for HIV.

You cannot get HIV through:

• Kissing, touching, hugging, shaking hands.
• Sharing crockery and cutlery.
• Coughing or sneezing.
• Contact with toilet seats.
• Insect or animal bites.
• Eating food prepared by someone with HIV.

Where to get help