If someone has an STD, can it lead to HIV without coming in contact with an HIV infected person?

Last updated on September 24, 2020

Question:

If someone has an STD, can it lead to HIV without coming in contact with an HIV infected person?

Answer:

HIV is a specific virus. HIV is one of many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These diseases include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, but one doesn’t become another. Their only commonality is that they are most likely to be spread through sexual contact from one person to another.

Having one disease does make you more susceptible to picking up additional diseases, but one disease does not become another disease.