Module 5: HIV Transmission and Prevention, Screen 2 of 17

Virtual Guide FranciscoThe Five Body Fluids that Can Transmit HIV

This module explores the basics of how HIV passes from person to person. We’ll focus on sexual transmission and prevention. In Module 6 we’ll look more at drugs and injection drug use.

Let’s start with the five body fluids that can transmit HIV:
  • Blood
  • Semen
  • Precum (pre-ejaculate)
  • Vaginal Fluid
  • Breast Milk (for infants)

Other body fluids (tears, saliva, sweat, sputum, nasal secretions, urine, and feces) do not transmit HIV. Sharing food or drink, hugging and kissing, sharing a classroom or work environment—the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that none of these are ways that people contract the virus.

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