The best way to prevent HIV is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex or share needles at any time. Sharing needles for any reason is very risky.

If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:

Use condoms. Male latex condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and other STIs when you have sex. Because a man does not need to ejaculate (come) to give or get some STIs, make sure to put the condom on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus. Female condoms can also help to prevent HIV infection. Other methods of birth control, like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms, will not protect you from STIs.
Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are tested for HIV and other STIs. Talk to each other about the test results before you have sex. Having an STI increases your chances of becoming infected with HIV during sex. If your partner has an STI in addition to HIV, that also increases your risk of HIV infection. If you have an STI, you should also get tested for HIV.
Be monogamous. Having sex with just one partner can lower your risk for HIV and other STIs. After being tested for STIs, be faithful to each other. That means that you have sex only with each other and no one else.
Limit your number of sexual partners. Your risk of getting HIV and other STIs goes up with the number of partners you have.
Get vaccinated. You can get a vaccine to protect against HPV and hepatitis B, which are STIs. There is no vaccine to prevent or treat HIV.
Don't douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection. This may increase your risk of getting HIV and other STIs.
Do not abuse alcohol or drugs. Alcohol or drug abuse may lead to risky behaviors such as sharing needles to inject drugs or not using a condom when you have sex.

The steps work best when used together. No single step can protect you from every single type of STI.

Learn more about your risk for HIV with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's HIV Risk Reduction Tool.

Male latex condoms are a highly effective way to prevent HIV and other STIs, but almost one in every five women who uses only condoms for birth control gets pregnant.3 The best way to prevent both STIs and pregnancy is to use a latex condom along with another highly effective method of birth control such as an intrauterine device (IUD), an implant, or the shot.

Hiv Prevention

What unique challenges do women face in preventing HIV?

How can I prevent HIV?

Can I take medicine to prevent getting or passing HIV?

What are some behaviors that can raise a woman's risk for HIV?

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How can I prevent HIV if I inject drugs?

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How can I prevent HIV if I get tattoos or body piercings?

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I'm pregnant and have HIV. Will my baby get HIV?

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I have HIV. Can I breastfeed my baby?

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How can I help protect my children from HIV?

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References And Sources

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What are some behaviors that can raise a woman's risk for HIV?

How can I prevent HIV if I inject drugs?

How can I prevent HIV if I get tattoos or body piercings?

I'm pregnant and have HIV. Will my baby get HIV?

I have HIV. Can I breastfeed my baby?

How can I help protect my children from HIV?

References And Sources