Ways of protection
- Condoms protect against and reduce the risk of getting HIV and other STIs. Use a condom when having vaginal sex or anal sex.
- The risk of being infected with HIV via oral sex is very low. Avoid getting semen in your mouth to further lower the risk.
- Only use your own injection material, or new material.
- Pregnant women with HIV should take medicines during the pregnancy. Then the risk of the baby getting infected will be very low.
If you have HIV and you are not treated, you can infect other people, even if you have no symptoms yet.
Preventive treatment against HIV
People who have a particularly high risk of being infected with HIV can get preventive treatment free of charge. The treatment is called "PrEP". The treatment is very effective in reducing the risk of being infected with HIV.
PrEP is mainly given to men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans people who, for example,
- have had unprotected anal sex with multiple partners the last 12 months, and
- themselves believe that this is likely to happen again.
Other factors that might make PrEP relevant are:
- If you have a STI or have needed PEP the last 12 months.
- If you have sex while under the influence of drugs.
- If you come from a minority background.
Contact your general practitioner or the hospital to be considered for PrEP.
In case of emergency
If you have been exposed to HIV, you can take a medicine called "PEP". The medicine protects you from being infected with hiv. Take the medicine as soon as possible (no longer than 3 days after you have been exposed to infection). The sooner you start taking it after you have been exposed to infection, the higher the chance of not getting infected. If you need PEP, you can get the treatment free of charge from your local out-of-hours medical service. Here you can also ask questions about PEP.
Minimal risk of infecting others
If you take your HIV medicines correctly every day, the amount of hiv in your blood (viral load) is reduced. After a few months it can often no longer be traced, though the virus is still in your body. Then there is almost no risk that you will infect someone else.
It is punishable by law to intentionally infect others with HIV, or to knowingly expose others to a great risk of being infected. If you do what is possible to avoid infecting others, you cannot be punished. For instance: if you use a condom and/or are receiving successful treatment for HIV.
Therefore, it is advisable to talk to your doctor and your partner if you want to have sexual intercourse with a condom.
