Can HIV Can Be Transmitted Through Breast Milk?

Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 3 Jun 2014 Answered on

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi .
My new Girlfriend lactates heavily after stimulation and I have been sucking her nipples. I have definitely taken in an amount of fluid. She may be HIV positive. What are the risks?
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HIV Testing

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it.

HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through:

-Blood (including menstrual blood)
-Semen
-Vaginal secretions
-Breast milk

Blood contains the highest concentration of the virus, followed by semen, followed by vaginal fluids, followed by breast milk.

Breast milk contains HIV, but small amounts of breast milk do not pose significant threat of infection to adults. Saliva actually contains an enzyme that inhibits HIV, thereby making it extremely difficult to pass the virus on through nipple sucking, even with the presence of fluid. However, if you are having anxieties over the issue, it is never a bad decision to go and get tested.

regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar