HIV thrives in certainbody fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.
Most people get infected when exposed to HIV through these fluids.
It is important to note that HIV cannot penetrate intact skin.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
HIV infection can occur with just one exposure, particularly in high-risk individuals.
With that said, not everyone experiences ARS in the same way.
These includetonsillitis,meningitis,herpes zoster(shingles), gastric bleeding, andesophageal thrush.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
By identifying your personal risk factors for HIV, you could better determine whether you need HIV testing.
Sexual Risk Factors
Sex is by far the most common mode of HIV transmission.
With that said, there are variables that can increase or decrease the risk of infection.
Rectal tissues are especially prone to rupture, allowing the virus direct access to vulnerable tissues and cells.
Additionally, women have a 1.6-fold greater risk of progression to AIDS.
Injecting crack cocaine or cocaine is associated with a 2.1-fold to 3.7-fold increased risk of HIV transmission.
HIV Stigma
HIV remains a highly stigmatized disease.
When paired with homophobia, misogyny, and racism, HIV stigma can exponentially increase the risk of infection.
There are several different HIV tests to choose from.
Some in-office tests require a sample of blood.
As accurate as these newer-generation tests are, they still have their limitations.
Newer combination tests may be able to cut that time to 14 days.
Department of Health and Human Services.U.S.
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doi:10.1093/infdis/jiu175
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Injection drug use and HIV risk.
2017;27(4):238-243. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.02.003
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV testing and youth.
2019;14(6):e0218369.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218369
Huynh K, Kahwaji CI.HIV testing.
In: StatPearls [Internet].
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Final draft recommendation: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: screening.
