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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

There's no vaccine to prevent HIV infection and no cure for AIDS. But it's possible to protect yourself and others from infection. That means educating yourself about HIV and avoiding any behavior that allows HIV-infected fluids — blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk — into your body.

To help prevent the spread of HIV, you should:

  • Use a new condom every time you have sex. If you don't know the HIV status of your partner, use a new condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex. Women can use a female condom. Use only water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants can weaken condoms and cause them to break. During oral sex use a condom, dental dam &madsh; a piece of medical-grade latex — or plastic wrap.
  • Use a clean needle. If you use a needle to inject drugs, make sure it's sterile and don't share it. Take advantage of needle-exchange programs in your community and consider seeking help for your drug use.
  • Tell your sexual partners if you have HIV. It's important to tell anyone with whom you've had sex that you're HIV-positive. Your partners need to be tested and to receive medical care if they have the virus. They also need to know their HIV status so that they don't infect others.
  • If you're pregnant, get medical care right away. If you're HIV-positive, you may pass the infection to your baby. But if you receive treatment during pregnancy, you can cut your baby's risk by as much as two-thirds.
Coping and support
References
  1. Basic information about HIV and AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  2. HIV and its treatment: What you should know. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/HIVandItsTreatment_cbrochure_en.pdf. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  3. Kumar V, et al. Immunodeficiency syndromes. In: Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Professional Edition. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/0/2060/57.html?tocnode=57529567&fromURL=57.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0792-2..50011-0--cesec96_437. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  4. Quinn TC. The global human immunodeficiency virus pandemic. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  5. Opal SM, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/1002085996/2088/313.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00017-4--sc0185_6437. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  6. Bartlett JG. The stages and natural history of HIV infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  7. Opal SM, et al. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/1002085996/2088/22.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00010-1--s1620_340. Accessed May 18, 2010.
  8. Living with AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/livingwithhiv.htm. Accessed May 19, 2010.
  9. Neurological complications of AIDS fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aids/detail_aids.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
  10. Bartlett JG. When to initiate antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
  11. Side effects of anti-HIV medications: Health information for patients. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/SideEffectAnitHIVMeds_cbrochure_en.pdf. Accessed May 21, 2010.
  12. Eating defensively: Food safety advice for persons with AIDS. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm135844.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
  13. Natural medicines in the clinical management of HIV/AIDS. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed May 21, 2010.
  14. The HIV/AIDS programs: Find HIV/AIDS care. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://hab.hrsa.gov/findcare/index.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
  15. Fourth generation HIV diagnostic test approved, permitting earlier detection of infection. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm216409.htm. Accessed June 24, 2010.
  16. FDA approves first-of-its-kind HIV test which can detect HIV days earlier than current U.S. tests. Abbott Laboratories. http://www.abbott.com/global/url/pressRelease/en_US/60.5:5/Press_Release_0875.htm. Accessed June 24, 2010.
  17. Daar ES, et al. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of primary HIV-1 infection. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2008;3:110.
  18. Sax, PE. Primary HIV-1 infection: Pathogenesis; epidemiology and clinical manifestations. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
  19. Stages of HIV. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/hiv-in-your-body/stages-of-hiv/. Accessed Oct. 19, 2011.
  20. Fauci A, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus disease: AIDS and related disorders. In: Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Oct. 19, 2011.
DS00005 Oct. 20, 2011

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