By: Ann K. Avery, MD, Infectious Disease Physician at MetroHealth Medical Center
Ever heard someone say you can get HIV from a toilet seat? Or from kissing? 😳
Let’s be honest—there are a lot of HIV myths floating around. You might hear them from friends, on social media, or even from people who should know better. Sometimes these myths are just based on old information. Other times, they come from fear or stigma. But either way, they can be really harmful. Myths can lead to people feeling ashamed, being treated unfairly, or avoiding care they need.
So, let’s set the record straight! We’re here to bust the most common HIV myths and replace them with facts. 💪
You can’t get HIV from…
Let’s start with this. HIV can’t be spread through:
- hugging or kissing
- sharing food or drinks
- using the same toilet
- bug bites
- sweat or saliva
- musical instruments
- swimming pools or showers
HIV is passed through certain body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal and anal fluids, and human milk. That’s it. You’re not going to catch HIV by giving someone a high five or sitting on a public toilet.
Myth #1: An HIV diagnosis means your life is over.
Not even close.
Thanks to modern treatment (called antiretroviral therapy, or ART), people with HIV live long, healthy lives—often just as long as someone without HIV. When taken every day as prescribed, HIV meds keep the virus under control. When taking ART, the virus reaches undetectable levels. This means that the copies of HIV in blood become so low they can’t be found by standard tests.
And here’s the best part: Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U. That means someone with an undetectable viral load can’t pass HIV to their partner through sex! 🙌
Myth #2: HIV isn’t a big deal anymore.
HIV treatment has come a long way. But that doesn’t mean it’s something to take lightly.
Taking care of your health with HIV means sticking to a medication routine, going to regular doctor visits, and keeping up with lab tests. Missing doses can make the virus stronger and harder to treat.
And HIV doesn’t just affect your immune system. When left untreated, it can increase the risk of other health problems like infections and cancers. So, while it’s no longer a “death sentence,” it is still something to manage seriously.
Myth #3: Only gay men and people who inject drugs get HIV.
Nope. HIV doesn’t care about your gender, orientation, or background.
In fact, most women who get HIV get it through heterosexual sex. And about 1 in 6 men who get HIV also get it from straight sex.
This is why anyone who’s sexually active or sharing needles should get tested regularly. You don’t have to be part of a certain group to be at risk. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested..
Myth #4: If we both have HIV, we don’t need to use protection.
Even if both partners are HIV-positive, safer sex still matters.
Why? Because people can have different strains of HIV, and it’s possible to get re-infected with a different one. And, some strains of HIV are resistant to certain ART medications, which make treatment and reaching U=U more difficult. Resistance is more likely to occur in people that don’t take their medicine consistently.
Also, protection like condoms and dental dams help prevent other STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. And let’s be real—those can be a pain to deal with too 😬
Myth #5: If I test negative, I can skip the condoms.
A negative test is great, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.
After someone is exposed to HIV, it can take time for the virus to show up on a test. This is called the window period. During this time, a person could test negative even though they’re actually positive—and still be able to pass HIV to someone else. Depending on the specific HIV test, the window period can be up to 90 days long.
This means that if you test negative, it’s a good idea to get tested again within a few months. You can also ask your doctor or nurse which type of test they’re ordering—they can help determine how long the window period is, and when you should get retested.
So, if you’re having unprotected sex with a partner whose status isn’t 100% known (or your own status is uncertain), it’s always best to use condoms and get tested regularly. ❤️
Myth #6: People with HIV shouldn’t have kids.
This is one of the older HIV myths that’s still around—and it’s so outdated. If a birthing parent is on treatment and has an undetectable viral load, the chances of passing HIV to their baby are extremely low.
Amazingly, people with HIV can even breast/chest feed without concern of transmitting HIV to their baby. With the right medical care, education and planning, HIV-positive people can build the families they dream of! 👶🏽
Let’s stop the shame and spread facts, not fear.
HIV myths hurt everyone. They make people afraid to talk openly, get tested, or ask questions. But the truth is, HIV is a medical condition—just like diabetes or asthma. People with HIV deserve respect, care, and support.
If you or someone you love has HIV, know that you're not alone.
💬 Come join the Positive Peers app! It’s a private, judgment-free space made just for young people with HIV. You’ll find:
- Support from people who get it
- A community forum and private messages
- Tools to help you track meds and appointments
Ready to join? Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or visit Positive Peers to learn more! 💙