You have an increased risk of developing HIV if you:

Are a man who has sex with other men (homosexual or bisexual).

Have multiple sex partners, especially if a partner injects illegal drugs or is a man who has same-sex partners.

Inject illegal drugs or steroids, especially if you share needles, syringes, cookers, or other equipment used to inject drugs.

Have had a recent episode of a sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis.

Babies born to mothers infected with HIV also have an increased risk of developing the infection.

The chance that you will become infected with HIV during sexual contact depends on how often you have sex with a partner who has HIV and the likelihood that the virus will be spread during each instance. This likelihood is influenced by:

Sexual practices, such as unprotected sex. Consistent use of condoms is the only way to prevent getting or spreading HIV during sexual contact.

Whether you have sores on your genitals or in your rectum. These may be caused by rough intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, or overuse of spermicides.

Whether you have open sores in your mouth, especially if you have oral sex with a partner who has HIV.

Whether you are resistant to HIV. Some people's CD4+ cells are resistant to HIV. If HIV cannot attach itself to CD4+ cells, it cannot infect or destroy them.

The stage of infection of your partner who has HIV. HIV may be spread more easily in the early stages, when the first flulike symptoms of HIV (acute retroviral syndrome) are present, and again later, when symptoms of HIV-related illness are present.

What to think about
You can reduce your risk of infection with HIV by practicing safe sex and by not sharing needles, syringes, cookers, cotton, spoons, or eyedroppers.

The risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion is extremely low because all donated blood in the United States is screened for HIV antibodies.