HIV can only be transmitted from one person to another by the transfusion of bodily fluids from one person to another. Through oral sex, vaginal or frontal intercourse, anal sex, and sharing injecting equipment, HIV can be spread from one person to another.

It can't be transmitted by the following: kissing, shaking hands, and hugging. It also can't be spread through tears, sweat, saliva, spitting, pee, or feces. 

It is safe to share things that someone with HIV has touched or used to eat or drink. Also, swimming pools, showers, hot tubs, and towels do not pose a transfer risk. 

A common misunderstanding is that HIV only affects gay men. This is not true; anyone can get HIV, no matter their sexual preference, gender, or background. HIV can be spread through blood and other vaginal fluids. Anyone who does things that put them at risk of getting HIV can get it.

The idea that HIV only affects certain groups has led to damaging stigma, which can keep people from getting tested and getting the care they need. There may be higher rates of gay and bisexual men getting HIV in some places, but HIV affects everyone, including straight men and women, transgender people, and people of all ages, races, and economically situations.

When someone is getting proper HIV treatment, they can't give HIV to someone else through sex. When you get good care, the virus (your viral load) is lowered to levels that can't be observed or detected. It means that the amount of HIV in your blood is so low that the tests used to measure viral load fail to detect it. This means that you can't give the virus to anyone else.  

The name HIV refers to a virus. AIDS (sometimes known as late stage or advanced HIV) refers to a group of diseases caused by the virus. You can't acquire an AIDS diagnosis unless you're already HIV positive, yet many people who have HIV never develop AIDS. This is because breakthroughs in HIV treatment have resulted in HIV being a long-term manageable condition.