Some very serious sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be passed to other people through blood. One of the main ways this happens is by sharing needles for drugs, tattooing or body piercing.
Two of the STDs that can be passed by sharing needles are HIV and Hepatitis. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS and Hepatitis is a virus that permanently damages the liver. You never know who might have HIV or Hepatitis because they usually won’t have any signs or symptoms that you can see.
Never share needles for taking drugs, tattooing or body piercing. You can’t tell if a needle has been used just by looking at it. Always get any body piercing or tattooing done in a professional, clean business that uses sterile needles. “Sterile” means that it’s been professionally cleaned so that it doesn’t have any viruses, bacteria, or other germs on it that could make you sick.