Which bodily fluids transmit hiv

The HIV in these fluids may cause infection if it enters the body of a sex partner. The mucous membranes most commonly involved in the sexual transmission of HIV include the:. The mucous membranes are found at the entrances into the body and line the gastrointestinal tract the passageway from the mouth to the anus , the reproductive system, the urogenital tract and the lungs. These parts of the body play important roles that help the body work properly.

They are involved in exchanging substances between the body and the outside environment. For example, the gastrointestinal tract secretes chemicals to break down food and absorb nutrients into the body. Mucous membranes need to stay wet to help them work as they are supposed to. All mucous membranes secrete mucous, a slimy fluid that helps keep them wet and lubricated. After a fluid containing HIV comes into contact with a mucous membrane, HIV still needs to complete a difficult journey before it can cause an infection.

In some cases, HIV is not able to complete this journey and infection does not occur. The mucous membranes are vulnerable but not defenseless. These membranes are covered with a layer of cells called epithelial cells that are tightly joined together. This helps to prevent germs from entering the body and causing an infection. Some mucous membranes such as the rectum have a single layer of cells while others such as the foreskin, urethra and vagina have multiple layers.

The more layers, the more protection there is. The mucous itself also contains chemicals and antibodies that can kill germs. Even if HIV manages to pass through the mucous and the layer of cells, there are still ways the body can prevent an HIV infection.

Under the cell layer, a large concentration of immune cells is responsible for attacking and killing germs that manage to find their way past the cell layer. To cause an infection after an exposure, HIV first needs to cross the cell layer and then avoid being destroyed by the immune cells below. If the virus overcomes these defenses, it can then spread past the site of infection to other parts of the body, by entering the blood and lymphatic vessels in the mucous membrane tissue.

Once HIV has spread throughout the body, the virus can establish infections in different organs and tissues. At this point, the HIV infection becomes permanent see Figure. Also, if HIV spreads beyond the mucous membranes, immune cells in the blood and lymphatic vessels and organs and tissues may be able to clear the virus before a permanent infection is established. This explains why some exposures to HIV do not lead to infection.

HIV can travel across the cell layer and enter the body on its own, but damage to the cell layer can make it easier for HIV to get across. Things that damage an intact cell layer and have the potential to increase the risk of infection include:. The larger the surface of the cell layer exposed to HIV, the more likely it is that HIV will be able to find a way to cross it.

The surface area of the mucous membranes on the penis the urethra and foreskin is much smaller than the surface area of the rectum or vagina. This partly explains why insertive anal or vaginal sex generally carries a lower risk of getting HIV compared to receptive sex. Similarly, insertive vaginal sex is less risky than receptive vaginal sex. This also explains why male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection for men who participate in vaginal sex.

Similarly, circumcision may also reduce the risk of HIV infection for men who participate in insertive anal sex. Therefore, male circumcision may be beneficial for gay men who only top, but not for gay men who top and bottom. The more HIV that the cell layer is exposed to, the greater the chance that one or more virus particles will be able to find a way past the layer, enter the tissue below and cause infection.

Therefore, factors that lower the amount of virus the viral load in the fluids of someone who is HIV positive can greatly reduce their risk of transmitting HIV. If a person on treatment is engaged in care and maintains an undetectable viral load, they do not pass HIV sexually. When an HIV-positive person is not on treatment, factors that increase viral load may increase their risk of transmitting HIV.

STIs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes and syphilis, can increase the viral load in the bodily fluid at the site of the STI. The viral load of a person who is not on treatment is very high during the first 10 to 12 weeks after a person becomes infected and also when a person has advanced HIV disease.

Once HIV has successfully crossed the cell layer, the virus faces a battle against the immune cells waiting in the tissue below. In fact, for many sexual acts the risk is around 1 in But other factors can make HIV transmission more likely.

If the HIV-negative person has an untreated sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea , the risk is greater.

Just as HIV treatment and an undetectable viral load prevents HIV transmission, a high viral load makes it more likely. It is extremely high in the first few weeks after a person is first infected with HIV. It may also be high if a person does not take HIV treatment and has advanced disease. People who have HIV without realising it cannot take HIV treatment, so there is a strong possibility that they have a high viral load.

HIV is also sometimes transmitted during oral sex fellatio. It may occasionally be passed from an HIV-positive person to someone sucking their penis. Other forms of oral sex are considered to be either low-risk or no-risk. Oral sex is much less risky than vaginal or anal sex, but it is not risk free. The risk depends on the viral load of the person with HIV, the dental health of the person performing oral sex and untreated sexually transmitted infections. HIV can be transmitted by sharing sex toys such as dildos or butt plugs.

They should be covered with condoms or disinfected between use by different people. HIV transmission through the following activities is biologically implausible and there have been no documented cases. There is no risk of HIV being passed on through: coughing, sneezing or spitting; kissing, hugging or shaking hands; sharing cutlery, plates or cups; breathing the same air; using the same lavatory; mosquito or animal bites.

The biology of HIV transmission. Primary tabs View active tab Preview. When a person's viral load in undetectable, they have effectively no risk of transmitting the HIV virus to a non-infected partner 4. Taking these medication will help keep a person with HIV healthy while also helping prevent the spread of HIV to another person. This is not a cure, however.

If medication is taken incorrectly or stopped, HIV viral loads will increase again and transmission can occur.

Condoms and other barrier methods should still always be used during sex 4. If you have HIV and have an undetectable viral load, you should still tell your partner before having sex. These medications need to be started within 72 hours of exposure and taken for about a month 4.

This is because STIs cause inflammation to the genital area, drawing in more immune cells to the area, which are the target for HIV 2. Water-based lubes and silicone-based lubes are both safe to use with female and male condoms. However, oil-based lubes or any other oil products like petroleum jelly or mineral oil should not be used with latex condoms, as they can dissolve the latex of the condom and may cause latex condoms to break 4. Penile circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from a penis.

This is a common procedure, which is often performed as an elective choice on babies for cultural or religious reasons. Sometimes circumcisions are performed to treat medical conditions, and recently circumcision has been advocated for disease prevention.

There is a link between circumcision and rates of HIV contraction. People with circumcised penises are less likely to contract HIV from an HIV positive person during penis-vagina sex 1,4. Being circumsized does not eliminate the chance of contracting HIV; it only decreases it—so condoms should still always be used. HIV is not the death sentence it used to be. But there is still a long way to go, with the World Health Organization predicting that there are close to 37 million people in the world living with HIV 1.

Download Clue to track protected and unprotected sex. Are vaginal fluids really all that different? In this article, we explain how to identify vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, and cervical fluid. Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum.

When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control. Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia. Menstrual Cycle. Birth Control. About Clue. App Store Play Store. Top things to know HIV is transmitted through the exchange of certain types of bodily fluids including: blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluids Saliva, tears, sneezing, and physical contact cannot transmit HIV Having unprotected anal sex, penis-vagina sex, and even oral sex though rarely can transmit HIV There is no cure for HIV, but medications are available which can keep the viral load low and even prevent HIV transmission, as well as others which can greatly reduce the risk of contracting HIV What is HIV?

And what is AIDS? How is HIV transmitted? Air or water 2 Pets and insects including mosquitoes cannot carry the virus and infect you, because transmission of HIV is only between humans 2.

HIV and sex Knowing which activities put you at a greater risk for acquiring HIV can help you make the best choices for you.