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HIV cannot live outside the body and must get into your bloodstream in order to infect you.
 

You cannot get HIV from toilet seats, from kissing or hugging, or from sharing dishes or eating utensils.

HIV can live in blood (including menstral blood), seminal fluid (including semen and pre-cum), vaginal secretions and breast milk.

Saliva, tears, sweat and urine have no risk for HIV transmission.

There are three common ways HIV enters the bloodstream: through unprotected sex (vaginal or anal), sharing needles and syringes, or from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, delivery or breast-feeding.

Unprotected sex and sharing needles are the most common ways for HIV to be transmitted. Abstaining from sex and injection drug use are the most effective ways to reduce your risk of being infected with HIV. However, if you are going to have sex, the best way to reduce your risk is by practicing safer sex and using condoms. If you are going to use injection drugs, always use new or clean needles and works.

The risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child can be greatly reduced providing certain precautions are taken. HIV positive mothers can now protect their babies from HIV by taking medications during pregnancy and by not breast-feeding.

The risk of transmission through blood transfusion or blood products is also very low. Since 1985, all blood products in Canada have been tested for HIV.