Minimizing the Risk

According to AVERT, the three main types of transmission are sexual transmission, transmission through blood, and mother to child transmission.  There are measures that can be taken to avoid all of these types of transmission.

Sexual Transmission

• Abstaining from sex.  
• Having only one sexual partner
• Consistently using condoms

Transmission through Blood

• Giving up the use of injected drugs
• Being very cautious not to share equipment

Mother to Child Transmission

• Antiretroviral drugs given to the infected mother during the pregnancy and to the baby after birth
• A cesarean section  (only if this is a safe option)
• Not breast feeding the baby (only if this is a safe option)