Preventing HIV

  • Abstinence

    On a population level, delaying the onset of sexual activity, or at least full intercourse, could be an effective HIV prevention measure amongst some groups....

  • Being faithful

    This section explores concurrent partnerships and the impact of partner reduction on HIV prevention....

  • Condoms and lubricants

    Consistently used condoms provide significant protection against HIV, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), significantly better than any other prevention method....

  • Female condoms

    Introduced in 1993, the female condom is still the only female-controlled barrier method that has been proven to reduce sexually transmitted infections....

  • Circumcision

    There is strong biological and epidemiological evidence that circumcised men are less vulnerable to HIV infection via heterosexual intercourse than uncircumcised men....

  • Serosorting, sexual harm reduction and disclosure

    This section examines research into other strategies people use to reduce the risk of HIV transmission....

  • Post-exposure prophylaxis

    Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been in use, in healthcare settings, since 1988. Providing PEP after sexual exposure is more controversial....

  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis

    Pre-exposure prophylaxis is an experimental HIV-prevention strategy that would use antiretrovirals (ARVs) to protect HIV-negative people from HIV infection....

  • HIV treatment as prevention

    In recent years there has been a greater emphasis on the role of HIV treatment as a method of preventing new infections....

  • Treating sexually transmitted infections to prevent HIV

    One strand of investigation in the biomedical prevention of HIV is to see whether we can reduce HIV incidence by treating other sexually transmitted infections...

  • Microbicides

    Microbicides are any substances which protect people against infection by microbes, such as viruses or bacteria, on contact with those microbes....

  • Vaccines

    HIV vaccine researchers are still looking for a vaccine that would offer a significant degree of protection against HIV infection....

  • Behaviour change

    A practical introduction to the evidence regarding the effectiveness of non-biomedical HIV prevention methods....

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission

Visit our HIV treatments directory for key evidence and guidelines on prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.