HIV/AIDS: Causes

What causes HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV/AIDS is most often contracted through sexual contact. Any person who engages in sexual activity, including vaginal, oral, or anal sex, can contract and pass on an HIV infection. This includes heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual men and women. The more sexual partners a person has, the greater the risk of catching and passing on HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS can also be passed to another person through other means, such as contact with blood or bodily fluids. This can occur during blood transfusions or by sharing needles contaminated with HIV. Contracting HIV/AIDs through transfusions of blood products has become very rare since 1985 because donated blood products are now tested for HIV.

HIV can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

How is HIV/AIDS diagnosed?

HIV infection is diagnosed with a blood test that can reveal the presence of the specific antibodies (infection-fighting substances) that the body makes in response to the HIV infection. HIV may not be detectable in the first one to three months after infection, and a series of tests may be needed to diagnose or rule out HIV infection. A diagnosis of AIDS is generally made when an HIV infection has resulted in serious complications and opportunistic infections are occurring.

What are the risk factors for HIV/AIDS?

A number of factors are linked to an increased risk of developing HIV/AIDS including:

• Being born to or breastfed by a mother with HIV/AIDS

• Having had a transfusion of blood products before 1985 

• Having another type of sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia, genital herpes, HPV, or gonorrhea

• Having certain infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and hepatitis

• Having sex for money or drugs

• Having sex, including vaginal, oral, or anal sex, with men who have sex with men

• Having sex, including vaginal, oral, or anal sex, with multiple partners

• Sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs or for tattooing

Reducing your risk of HIV/AIDS

Not all people who are at risk for HIV/AIDS will develop the disease. You may be able to lower your risk of contracting HIV/AIDS by:

• Abstaining from sexual activity

• Engaging in sexual activity only within a mutually monogamous relationship in which neither partner is infected with HIV or has risk factors for the infection

• Getting regular, routine medical care and prenatal care

• Not sharing needles with others

• Seeking medical care as soon as possible after possible exposure to HIV/AIDS or high-risk sexual activity

• Using latex condoms properly