How to avoid HIV

The main ways to prevent HIV infection are to reduce the risk of exposure by using a condom when you have sex and not share needles and other equipment used for injecting drugs.

If a person living with HIV is taking antiretroviral medication correctly and the virus is undetectable in their blood, they will be unable to pass HIV to a sexual partner.

It is important to know your HIV status and that of your partner. If you are at regular risk of potential exposure to HIV you should have a regular HIV test and consider using PrEP (see below).

Sex

HIV can be transmitted by having vaginal or anal sex without a condom. There is also a risk of transmission through oral sex, but this risk is much lower.

​HIV can also be caught from sharing sex toys with someone infected with HIV.

The best way to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is to use a condom for penetrative sex and a dental dam or condom for oral sex.

Condoms

Condoms come in a variety of shapes, colours, textures, materials and flavours. Both male and female condoms are available. A condom is the most effective form of protection against HIV and other STIs. It can be used for vaginal and anal sex, and for oral sex performed on men.

​HIV can be passed on before ejaculation, through “pre-cum” and vaginal secretions, and from the anus.

It is very important that condoms are put on before any sexual contact occurs between the penis, vagina, mouth or anus.

Lubricant

Lubricant, or lube for short, is often used to enhance sexual pleasure and safety, by adding moisture to either the vagina or anus during sex. Lubricant can make sex safer by reducing the risk of vaginal or anal tears caused by dryness or friction, and it can also prevent a condom from tearing.

• Only water-based lubricant (such as KY Jelly) should be used with condoms
• Oil-based lubricants (such as Vaseline, massage oil and baby oil) weaken the latex in condoms and can cause them to break or tear, so should be avoided when using condoms.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP is a method of using anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) – usually used for treating people with HIV – to stop those at the very highest risk from contracting the virus.

Evidence shows PrEP can be highly effective in preventing HIV infection as long as the drugs are taken regularly when people are at risk.

Evidence of effectiveness is strongest for men who have sex without a condom with multiple male partners.

For further information on PrEP, including its effectiveness, availability and potential side-effects, please see our PrEP page and HIV FAQs.

Dental dams

A dental dam is a small sheet of latex that works as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus to reduce the risk of STIs during oral sex.

Needles and injecting equipment

If you inject drugs, don’t share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment such as spoons and swabs, as this could expose you to HIV and other viruses found in the blood, such as hepatitis B and C.

Many local authorities and pharmacies offer needle exchange programmes, where used needles can be exchanged for clean ones. If you are a heroin user, consider enrolling in a methadone programme. Methadone can be taken as a liquid, so it reduces your risk of getting HIV as you don’t need to inject it.

A GP or drug counsellor should be able to advise you about both needle exchange programmes and methadone programmes.

If you’re having a tattoo or piercing, it’s important that a clean, sterilised needle is used.

Further information on HIV

Detailed information about HIV is available on the NHS website.

See the FPA website for a range of downloadable leaflets on STIs and HIV.