HIV prevention strategies encompass a range of approaches, both non-medical and medical. Non-medical methods include the use of barrier methods, abstinence, communication, and education; medical approaches may include the use of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) and TasP (Treatment as Prevention).

We believe in a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention that considers both medical and non-medical alternatives that are accessible to all. Ideally, a combination of strategies can be effective in reducing the likelihood of HIV transmission. Nonetheless, people should talk to their doctor or their sexual health practitioner to make an informed decision on what works best for them according to their lifestyle and personal preferences.

The choice of HIV prevention and management will differ at a pre-exposure stage (where a person has not yet been exposed to the virus) compared to post-exposure (a stage following exposure to the virus). Throughout this article we will explain how HIV is transmitted and what can be done to prevent or manage it at different stages in a person’s journey.

At ViiV Healthcare we strive for a health-informed public and community. The onus of prevention shouldn't fall exclusively on people living with HIV - we are all in it together, and we can help reduce HIV transmission by making well-informed decisions.

How is HIV transmitted?

HOW IS HIV TRANSMITTED?

Understanding how HIV is transmitted is key to preventing it. HIV can only be transmitted through certain bodily fluids from an individual who is living with HIV and has a detectable viral load. These fluids include semen, pre-seminal fluids, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, blood, and breast milk.1 The most common method of HIV transmission is via anal or vaginal sex, and through intravenous drug use (i.e. sharing needles or syringes).2 HIV transmission is limited to direct contact with the specific bodily fluids mentioned here, and activities without exposure to these fluids carry a very low likelihood of HIV transmission.

While transmission of HIV from oral sex is theoretically possible, the risk is very low.3 Although difficult to quantify precisely, the figure lies somewhere between 0% and 0.04% chance of transmission per sexual act.4 Factors that may increase these low risks include ejaculation in the mouth with oral ulcers, bleeding gums or genital sores, or the presence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).3

HIV can also be transmitted perinatally, which means it can be passed from an HIV-positive mother to their child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.3 This is an important route of transmission to consider in maternal healthcare and prevention efforts. Anyone can get HIV regardless of sex or gender.

References

  1. Body Fluids That Transmit HIV. CDC. Published 2023. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/causes/
  2. HIV Transmission. CDC. Published 2023. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/causes/
  3. Ways HIV Can Be Transmitted. CDC. Published 2023. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/causes/
  4. Patel P, Borkowf CB, Brooks JT, Lasry A, Lansky A, Mermin J. Estimating per-act HIV transmission risk. AIDS. 2014;28(10):1509-1519. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/qad.0000000000000298
  5. HIV Treatment as Prevention. CDC. Published 2023. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/art/index.html
  6. Detailed STD Facts - HIV/AIDS & STDs. CDC. Published 2023. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/about/hivstd_prevention.htm
  7. Condom Fact Sheet In Brief. CDC. Published 2023. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/prevention/condoms.html
  8. Hayes R, Watson-Jones D, Celum C, van, Wasserheit JN. Treatment of sexually transmitted infections for HIV prevention: end of the road or new beginning? AIDS. 2010;24(Suppl 4):S15-S26. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aids.0000390704.35642.47
  9. UNAIDS Point of View the Female Condom and AIDS UNAIDS Best Practice Collection; 1997. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/fcondompv_en_1.pdf
  10. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. HIV.gov. Published 2022. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis/
  11. HIV Prevention. Test.HIV.Published 2015. Accessed November 8, 2023.
  12. Deciding to Take PrEP. Published 2023. Accessed November 10, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/hiv-prevention/pep.html
  13. What Is Injectable HIV PrEP? CLINICIANS’ QUICK GUIDE TM. https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/library/topics/prevention/brochures/cdc-lsht-prevention-brochure-clinicians-quick-guide-what-is-injectable-hiv-prep.pdf
  14. About PEP. Published 2023. Accessed November 10, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/hiv-prevention/pep.html
  15. Preventing Perinatal Transmission of HIV | NIH. Nih.gov. Published 2023. Accessed November 10, 2023. https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/preventing-perinatal-transmission-hiv
  16. HIV Prevention.Test.HIV.Published 2015. Accessed November 10, 2023. https://www.test.hiv/preventing-hiv
  17. Condom and Lubricant Programming in High HIV Prevalence Countries UNAIDS 2014 | GUIDANCE NOTE. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/condoms_guidancenote_en.pdf
  18. Infographic—Progress Toward an HIV Vaccine. Nih.gov. Published May 17, 2018. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/infographic-hiv-vaccine
  19. Experimental HIV vaccine regimen safe but ineffective, study finds. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Published January 18, 2023. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/experimental-hiv-vaccine-regimen-safe-ineffective-study-finds
  20. Laher F, Bekker LG, Garrett N, Lazarus EM, Gray GE. Review of preventative HIV vaccine clinical trials in South Africa. Archives of Virology. 2020;165(11):2439-2452. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-020-04777-2
  21. Prodger JL, Kaul R. The biology of how circumcision reduces HIV susceptibility: broader implications for the prevention field. Aids Research and Therapy. 2017;14(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-017-0167-6
  22. Yuan T, Fitzpatrick T, Nai Ying Ko, et al. Circumcision to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of global data. The Lancet Global Health. 2019;7(4):e436-e447. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30567-9
  23. What’s the difference between PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention? aidsmap.com. Published January 13, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/faq/whats-difference-between-prep-and-pep-hiv-prevention
  24. Using antibiotics to prevent STIs. aidsmap.com. Published May 26, 2023. Accessed November 16, 2023. https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/using-antibiotics-prevent-stis
  25. Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K. Condoms: Past, present, and future. Indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. 2015;36(2):133-139. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7184.167135

NP-GBL-HVX-COCO-240003 | February 2025

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the GSK Reporting Tool link https://gsk.public.reportum.com/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

If you are from outside the UK, you can report adverse events to GSK/ ViiV by selecting your region and market, here.