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High-risk behaviors for HIV

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By Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS

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You have an increased risk for getting HIV if you:

  • Are a man who has sex with other men.
  • Have multiple sex partners, especially partners who inject drugs.
  • Inject drugs or steroids, especially if you share needles, syringes, cookers, or other equipment used to inject drugs.
  • Have high-risk partner(s) (a man or woman who has multiple sex partners or injects drugs, or a man who has sex with men).
  • Have or have recently had a sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis or genital herpes.

Having sex with a person who has any of these behaviors also puts you at the same risk for becoming infected with other sexually transmitted diseases.

Credits

Author Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
Last Updated May 8, 2008
Last Updated: 05/08/2008