HIV is spread through contact with certain body fluids from a person infected with HIV, mainly blood and semen. The virus can also pass from an HIV-infected woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

Here is a simple list of tips that will help you reduce the risk from HIV.

• Get tested.
• Use condoms every time you have sex and use them correctly.
• Get tested between partners and know your partners’ HIV status.
• Limit the number of people you have sex with.
• Get tested for sexually transmitted infections.
• Ask your doctor about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). It is for men and women.
• Don’t inject drugs. If you do, never share needles.
• If you are living with HIV and are pregnant, get regular medical care. You can lower your risk of transmitting the disease to your baby by taking antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, having a C-section, and abstain from breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor.

• The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Find an NYC Health + Hospitals facility near you to get quick, affordable and confidential HIV testing with same day results.