You must take PEP within 72 hours of possible exposure and continue taking it for 28 days. If you have sex without a condom or other barrier method with someone who has HIV or someone who might have HIV, ask a doctor about PEP. If you don’t have HIV, ask a doctor whether you should take PrEP to lower your chance of contracting the virus. It also helps to ask your sexual partners about their testing history and status. Taking antiretroviral medication will lower the risk of complications and help prevent HIV transmission.
People who test positive for HIV should follow their doctor’s recommended treatment plan. People who have sex with multiple partners or partners of unknown HIV status should consider getting tested more frequently, such as every 3 to 6 months.
If you’re an MSM, consider getting tested at least once a year for HIV. The chance of HIV transmission increases with the number of sexual partners a person has. The chance of transmission is low during oral sex or activities that don’t involve contact with bodily fluids. The chance of transmission is high during anal sex without a condom or other barrier method. Some activities carry a higher risk of HIV transmission than others. If you don’t have an STI, you can protect yourself from acquiring an STI by using a condom or other barrier method every time you have sex.Īlso, it’s important to buy the right size condom for you and to use it properly. If you have HIV or another STI, getting treatment and using a condom or other barrier method every time you have sex can reduce the risk of transmission.
Use a barrier method during sexĬondoms and other barrier methods can protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here are a few ways to reduce the risk of transmission.