Mayo Clinic Health Manager
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By Mayo Clinic staffAnyone of any age, race, sex or sexual orientation can be infected with HIV, but you're at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS if you:
- Have unprotected sex with multiple partners. You're at risk whether you're heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Unprotected sex means having sex without using a new latex or polyurethane condom every time.
- Have unprotected sex with someone who is HIV-positive.
- Have another sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis.
- Share needles during intravenous drug use.
- Received a blood transfusion or blood products before 1985.
- Have fewer copies of a gene called CCL3L1 that helps fight HIV infection.
Newborns or nursing infants whose mothers tested positive for HIV but did not receive treatment also are at high risk.