What factors increase the chances of getting HIV?

Doctor's Answers 1

Thank you for the question. The risk of catching HIV is highest if you have multiple sexual partners and practice unprotected sex. The risk of transmission is higher through vaginal and anal sex and is lower with oral sex.

HIV can also be transmitted through blood and blood products. Sharing needles through intravenous drug use carries a high risk. It is also posssible to catch it through contaminated needles from tattooing. For health care workers, there is also a risk of acquiring HIV through needle stick injuries, though the risk is small.

HIV can also spread from mother to child. Blood transfusion with contaminated blood is also a risk factor but all blood for transfusions in Singapore is screened for HIV.

Therefore, do practice safe sex and use condoms to minimize the risk of acquiring HIV infection. Having a monogamous relationship and avoiding multiple sexual partners will certainly minimize the risk.

Similar Questions

What are the risks of receiving unprotected oral sex?

With unprotected oral sex, there is a risk of transmission of STDs, particularly for infections like gonorrhoea and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The throat can harbour the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea and this can spread through unprotected oral sex. For HSV infection, the risk of spread is highest if the person has a history of cold sores and has active blisters or ulcers. The risk of spread is significantly less in the absence of active lesions. Viral warts or HPV infection can spread through oral sex too.

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Answered By

Dr Colin Theng

Dermatologist

Can HIV tests be considered conclusive if they show negative results?

Thank you for the question. For HIV test, there is a window period, which is the period between the time of exposure to the time the test is able to detect the infection. For 4th generation HIV test, the window peroid is 4 weeks and for 3rd generation HIV test, it is 3 months. So with your 2 tests at 1 and 3 months negative, it is highly unlikely that you have caught an HIV infection. In recent HIV infection, the presentation can be very non specific, like any viral infection. However, years later, it can present with recurrent infections or unusual infections due to reduced immunity.

Photo of Dr Colin Theng

Answered By

Dr Colin Theng

Dermatologist

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