- If you choose to have sex, use condoms, the right way, every time. Birth control and spermicides do not protect you from HIV.
- Get tested. If you are having sex, get tested for HIV and other STIs.
- Limit the number of partners you have.
- Don’t inject drugs. If you do inject drugs, make sure you use only clean needles, syringes, and other works. Never share needles, syringes, and other works. Get tested for HIV every year
- Talk to your partner. If you or your partner has HIV or other STIs, you should tell each other. If you are not having sex with someone else and are not injecting drugs, you are probably safe.
- Ask your healthcare provider about PrEP. PrEP can be taken as a pill that when taken daily reduces the chance of HIV transmission by 90%. PrEP is also available as an injection, taken even two months, that may be a good choice if taking daily medicine might be inconvenient.
PrEP does not protect against other STDs/STIs or pregnancy. Visit our Condoms page and Birth Control comparison chart for more information about preventing pregnancy and other STDs/STIs.