If you or a loved one has been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus--HIV for short--you may be concerned about how this virus is transmitted to other people. The bodily fluids that contain HIV include blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. Talk with your doctor about how you can protect yourself against contracting or transmitting HIV.
Blood
The HIV virus infects the immune cells that are present in your blood. As a result, a healthy patient that is exposed to HIV-infected blood can be at risk of getting this infection, warn health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who share drug needles with HIV-infected individuals are at a high risk of becoming infected with the virus. Certain healthcare workers can also become infected with HIV after accidentally pricking the skin with a needle that was used in a HIV-positive patient.
Semen or Vaginal Fluid
The genital fluids, such as male semen (ejaculate) or female vaginal secretions, of an infected patient can also contain and transmit HIV, report health educators at The Body, a leading online resource for HIV/AIDS information. As a result, oral, genital or anal contact with semen or vaginal fluid that contains HIV can put you at risk for contracting this virus. If you or your intimate partner has HIV, be sure to protect each other by using a condom every time you engage in sexual activities.
Breast Milk
This virus is present in the breast milk of HIV-positive mothers who are pregnant or have recently given birth, explains AIDS, an informational website established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is possible for an infected woman to pass the virus to her child if she chooses to breastfeed--a process referred to as vertical transmission. Women who have this virus and become pregnant should seek immediate medical care to help prevent the transmission of HIV to the child.
