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HIV Prevention Facts

HIV PREVENTION FACTS

WHAT IS HIV? AIDS is caused by the virus called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. A virus is a small germ that can cause disease. If HIV enters your body, you may become infected with HIV. A blood test can detect HIV antibodies if you are infected. Antibodies are substances your body makes to fight an infection. A person who is infected can infect others, even if no symptoms are present. You cannot tell by looking at someone whether he or she is infected with HIV. An infected person can appear completely healthy. Even when no symptoms are visible, however, anyone infected with HIV should be under a doctor’s care. People infected with HIV can develop many health problems. These can include extreme weight loss, severe pneumonia, forms of cancer, and damage to the nervous system. These illnesses signal the onset of AIDS. In some people, these illnesses may develop within a year or two. Others may stay healthy for as long as 10 or more years before symptoms appear. Early medical treatment may prolong a person’s life. No one will develop AIDS unless he or she has been infected with HIV. By preventing HIV infection, we can prevent AIDS. HOW DO PEOPLE GET HIV? HIV is in the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk of someone with HIV infection. You can get HIV if: you have unprotected sex (vaginal, oral or anal) with someone who is infected with HIV, even if they are healthy you share needles and works to inject drugs you share needles to inject vitamins or steroids or needles used for tattoos or piercing. HIV can be passed from a mother to the fetus in her womb HIV can be passed to the baby during birth or breastfeeding. You can’t get HIV from: Donating blood Casual contact such as hugging, dry kissing or sharing food Telephones, toilet seats, towels or eating utensils Tears, saliva, sweat or urine HIV does not travel in the air. It must get into the bloodstream to infect a person. HOW TO PREVENT HIV You can help protect yourself from HIV: The best way to prevent sexual transmission is to not have sex. Having sex only with a lifetime partner who is not infected is safe. You can have sex that does not put you in contact with someone else’s blood, semen or vaginal fluids. Use correctly a new latex condom and a waterbased lubricant every time you have vaginal or anal sex. Don’t use oil-based lubricants. Oils in hand lotions, massage oils, Vaseline, etc. can cause the condom to break. Some people use lubricants with spermicides, such as nonoxynol-9. Don’t use these if you are allergic to them. People who are allergic to latex can use plastic (polyurethane) condoms. These come in both male and female styles. For oral sex on a woman (or on a man’s or woman’s anus) use a new latex barrier each time. (This can be a dental dam or a latex condom cut and rolled out flat). For oral sex on a man use, a new condom each time. Never share sex toys. If you do share, wash them well and cover them with a new condom each time. Don’t inject drugs. If you do, never share needles or works. Exchange needles at a Needle Exchange Program. If you do share works, clean them before and after each use. Rinse the syringe 3 times with clean water, 3 times with straight bleach and 3 times with new clean water. Remember that alcohol and other drugs affect your judgment. Using them may lead to poor decision making resulting in unsafe sex or injection drug use.