Causes of HIV

The HIV infection can be passed via blood, semen, breast milk and vaginal fluids. Therefore, you can pass or have HIV passed to you during unprotected anal or vaginal sex. Even with the often continual campaigns from the NHS and other bodies to encourage protection during intercourse, the reality is that HIV is still spreading across the UK. Taking a HIV test at a specific STD clinic or travel clinic is always recommended to those individuals who feel they need to.

There is a very small chance of infection through unprotected oral sex. It's estimated that around three in every 100 homosexual men with HIV get it through unprotected oral sex with a man who has HIV. The risk of oral transmission from women is extremely low. The risks, however, should not be overlooked. HIV testing is still a sensitive area for most people, and getting those people to visit a gum clinic or travel clinic can be tricky.

The virus can be passed from mother to baby if she has HIV during pregnancy, childbirth or when breastfeeding. HIV can also be passed on if you use infected needles for injections, piercings or tattoos. This problem often establishes itself when drugs, particularly heroin, are present in someone’s life. Drug addicts tend to be frequent visitors to STD clinics for a HIV test.

HIV is not found in high enough levels in other body fluids such as saliva, sweat, urine or on the skin to cause an infection from contact with these fluids.

HIV can't be passed on through normal day-to-day activities, such as sharing cutlery, sitting on toilet seats or by shaking hands.

Most HIV infections in the UK occur in homosexual men. Transmission of the virus through heterosexual contact has significantly increased in recent years. However, the majority of these infections are in people who have come to live in the UK from countries where HIV is widespread and have been diagnosed since living in the UK. If one has travelled in a country where the HIV virus is widespread, then we would recommend carrying out a STD test or HIV test at your local travel clinic.

The number of people living with HIV in the UK has increased steadily since the 1980s when the virus was discovered. Official figures for 2008 show that 7,298 people were diagnosed with the virus which takes the cumulative total to 105,625 by the end of June 2009. This is, however, only the official figures, and it is likely that many thousands more are unaware of contracting the virus. Raising awareness is therefore crucial to try to encourage people to visit their local gum clinic or travel clinic. City Doc is an STD clinic based in London, and can be found at www.moorgatemd.co.uk.