Others may stay healthy for as long as 10 or more years before symptoms appear. HIV infection and AIDS are serious health problems. AIDS is the result of a long process that begins with HIV infection. A person becomes infected when HIV is introduced into his or her body. There are four ways that people become infected Unprotected sexual intercourse vaginal, anal, or oral with an infected person.
Unprotected sex is sexual intercourse without consistent and correct condom use.
Using or being stuck with a needle or syringe that has been used by or for an infected person. Giving birth Women who are infected with HIV can pass it on to their babies during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding. Last, receiving blood the risk has been practically eliminated since 1985 when careful and wide-spread screening and testing of the blood supply for evidence of HIV became standard practice. Transmission through an infected blood transfusion is extremely rare today. But as long as sexual intercourse and sharing needles are avoided, it doesn t matter.