Vaginal sex between partners is one of the most common ways a person can acquire HIV. Both women and men can be put at risk when they have vaginal sex without using a condom.
There are a number of risk factors shared by both partners. There also are reasons for why men may be at risk, and other reasons for why women may be far more likely to become infected with HIV.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
This article discusses why vaginal sex presents an HIV risk for both men and women. It explains why anatomical differences, cultural norms, and even how well HIV treatment works can affect that risk.
Sex and Gender Identity
This article refers to men and women in its discussion of vaginal sex and HIV risk. These terms describe sex assigned at birth.
Vaginal sex means sex between a person with a penis and a person with a vagina. At Verywell Health, we respect that there are many ways a person may hold and express a sense of gender identity.
Risk by Sexual Activity
In the United States, heterosexual men accounted for 7% of new HIV diagnoses and heterosexual women accounted for 15% in 2022. The vast majority of new cases occur, however, in men who have sex with other men (MSM).Get The Full, Details. .
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
