HIV

How do you get HIV?

HIV is found mostly in blood and cum (sperm). You can get HIV through sex:

• Anal sex without condom
• Cum in your mouth: if you give someone a blowjob and he cums in your mouth. Chances are very small in this case

You can also get HIV from a dirty needle. For example, if you:

• Inject drugs with a needle used by someone else before
• Get a tattoo in a foreign country. Sometimes this is not safe
• Get a blood transfusion in a hospital in a foreign country. Not every country checks blood properly for HIV

You will NOT get HIV from this

You don’t just get HIV by getting close to people. So you will not get HIV, for example, from:

• A toilet seat
• Shaking or holding hands
• Hugging and cuddling
• French kissing (tongue kissing)

If someone with HIV takes medication, they cannot pass on HIV anymore, even if you have sex.

How often is HIV found?

Fewer and fewer people get HIV in the Netherlands. Yet, there are new cases every year:

• There are over 23.000 people with HIV in the Netherlands
• In 2022, about 150 people found out they have HIV
• 54% of the new HIV infections are among men who have sex with men
• Most people with HIV get medication. They cannot pass on HIV
• About 1.400 people don’t know yet they have HIV. They can pass HIV on to others

When are you more at risk for HIV?

There is a higher chance you have HIV if you (or the person you have sex with) come from a region in which many people have HIV. Always use PrEP and/or condoms to protect yourself.

Preventing HIV

There are 3 ways to prevent getting HIV. 

Use condoms

Use condoms during sex to keep the chance of transmitting HIV as small as possible. Do you have a new steady sex partner? Wait 3 months before having sex without a condom, and make sure you both get tested for HIV first.

Use PrEP before having sex

PrEP is a pill that protects you from HIV. You can take it daily, or only before and after having sex. 

Read more about PrEP

Use PEP after having sex

Did you risk getting HIV? For example by having sex with someone who has HIV and does not use medication? Or were you a victim of sexual assault (rape)? Then ask for PEP. This is medication that protects you from HIV transmission. 

You can only get PEP from the GGD or the emergency room. You need to start it as soon as possible. PEP is a 28-day treatment with HIV inhibitors (blockers). 

Read more about PEP

Avoid passing on HIV

Do you have HIV? Get treated. This way you will avoid passing on HIV during sex.