How can I contract HIV?
HIV is spread through some of the body's fluids. HIV is in:

• blood
• semen
• vaginal fluids
• breast milk
• some body fluids sometimes handled by health care workers (fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord, bone joints, and around an unborn baby)

How can HIV be spread?
HIV is passed from one person to another by:

• having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has HIV
• sharing needles with a drug user who has HIV
• during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding if a mother has HIV
• getting transfusions of blood with HIV, which is rare in the United States

Can HIV live on surfaces?
HIV does not survive well outside of the body. There are many myths about how HIV is passed. Here are the facts:

• You cannot get HIV through casual contact such as shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS.
• You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub.
• You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.
• You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.
• You cannot get HIV from giving blood.
• You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.

Learn more about HIV and AIDS by visiting:

• AIDS.gov - A gateway to Federal domestic HIV/AIDS information and resources.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The CDC's HIV website.
• AIDS Resource Center Ohio - Provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention/education programs, testing and counseling, support services, and linkage to care throughout 35 Ohio counties.
• TheBody.com - HIV/AIDS resource center/community site
• AIDS.org - News and facts site
  

Resources about other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs):

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- The CDC's STD web page.
  

• KidsHealth.org - Teen health site by the Nemours Foundation
• HepB.org - News, education, resources, experts' presentations about Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis B resources - Site of the PATH international poor health solution organization
• STD/STI Resource Center - Site of the American Social Health Association
• HC Support Network - STD information
• Smarter Sex.org - The Bacchus Network's sexual health site aimed at college students
• HVP Vaccine Resource - Global network of publications and links
• Immunization.org - The Immunization Action Coalition's site with links to HPV resources