The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system. A healthy immune system is what keeps you from getting sick.
Because HIV damages your immune system, you are more likely to get sick from bacteria and viruses. It is also harder for your body to fight off these infections when you do get them, so you may have trouble getter better. HIV is the condition that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
How to Reduce Your HIV and AIDS risk
What is HIV?
What is AIDS?
AIDS is a progression of HIV. When HIV moves into its final stages, it is considered to be AIDS. People who have AIDS are at an even higher risk of getting sick, and their bodies are even less able to fight off infections than people who have HIV. They usually die of an infection or cancer.
How do people get HIV?
HIV can only be passed from person to person through body fluids, like blood, semen and vaginal fluid. The most common ways HIV is passed are:
- By having unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected person.
- By sharing needles and syringes for injecting drugs with an infected person.
You may be at risk of getting HIV if you have any of the risk factors listed in the box below. Children born to infected mothers can also become infected during pregnancy.
Possible risk factors for HIV infection
You should be tested for HIV if you:
- Have had unprotected sex with many sex partners.
- Have a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
- Use illegal injected drugs.
- Had blood transfusions or received blood products before 1985.
- Have a sex partner with any of the above risk factors.
What contact is safe?
HIV can't live very long outside the body, so you can't get it through casual contact. You can't get the virus by touching, shaking hands, hugging, swimming in a public pool, giving blood, or using hot tubs, public toilets, telephones, doorknobs or water fountains. You also can't get it from food, mosquitoes or other insects.
Should I be tested for HIV?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encourages all sexually active people between 13 years and 64 years of age to get tested. The CDC also recommends that pregnant women be tested for HIV. Most HIV antibody tests done by your doctor are accurate if they are done 2 to 3 months or longer after you think you may have been infected. It takes this long for the antibodies to show up in the blood.
Are there HIV tests I can do at home?
There is only one HIV home kit that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Home Access HIV-1 Test System is a collection kit that is used to collect a blood sample that is then mailed to a laboratory for testing. This test offers the advantage of privacy and anonymity.
Should I use the home test or see my doctor?
Your doctor is concerned about you, your health and your privacy. If you want to be tested for HIV, you should see your doctor. He or she will help you decide whether you should be tested and will give you the support you need before and after the test. You don't get this type of support with home tests.
However, if you are afraid to talk with your doctor about HIV or to be tested, then the home collection test may be a good idea. If the test result is positive, you should see your doctor right away.
Remember, one negative test is not a guarantee that you don't have HIV or won't get it in the future. You should talk with your doctor and learn about ways to protect yourself from getting infected.
However, if you are afraid to talk with your doctor about HIV or to be tested, then the home collection test may be a good idea. If the test result is positive, you should see your doctor right away.
Remember, one negative test is not a guarantee that you don't have HIV or won't get it in the future. You should talk with your doctor and learn about ways to protect yourself from getting infected.
How can I avoid getting HIV?
The best ways to protect yourself from getting infected with HIV are to:
- Not have sex with a person who is infected or is having sex with others.
- Practice "safer" sex if you do have sex.
- Not share needles and syringes.
You can't tell who's infected with HIV by how they look. It takes an average of 8 years for symptoms of AIDS to develop after a person is infected with HIV. So even people who don't look or feel sick can give you AIDS.
What is "safer" sex?
The "safest" sex is no sex. If you are having sex, "safer" sex is sex between 2 people who don't have HIV infection, only have sex with each other and don't abuse injectable drugs.
Safer sex also means using condoms if you have any doubts about whether your partner is infected or whether he or she is having sex with someone else. Use male latex condoms every time you have sex.
If a man doesn't want to use a male condom, use a female condom. Female condoms may not be as effective as male condoms, but they offer some protection.
Never let someone else's blood, semen, urine, vaginal fluid or feces get into your anus, vagina or mouth.
Safer sex also means using condoms if you have any doubts about whether your partner is infected or whether he or she is having sex with someone else. Use male latex condoms every time you have sex.
If a man doesn't want to use a male condom, use a female condom. Female condoms may not be as effective as male condoms, but they offer some protection.
Never let someone else's blood, semen, urine, vaginal fluid or feces get into your anus, vagina or mouth.
What's the right way to use condoms?
Using condoms the right way is important to make sure you are protected. Latex condoms should be used during all sex acts, including anal, vaginal and oral sex. If you are allergic to latex, use a polyurethane condom. For oral sex on a woman, she can use a condom split lengthwise to place between her body and her partner's mouth.
If you are thinking about using a spermicide, be aware that research has shown that spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 can cause genital irritation and increase your risk of catching an STI. However, using a condom with nonoxynol-9 is better than not using a condom at all.
Use only water-based lubricants (such as K-Y jelly) with condoms. Oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline), baby oil or lotions, cause the rubber in condoms to break.
If you are thinking about using a spermicide, be aware that research has shown that spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 can cause genital irritation and increase your risk of catching an STI. However, using a condom with nonoxynol-9 is better than not using a condom at all.
Use only water-based lubricants (such as K-Y jelly) with condoms. Oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline), baby oil or lotions, cause the rubber in condoms to break.
How to use male condoms
Use a latex or polyurethane condom. Condoms made from natural membranes, such as sheep gut, aren't as good because the virus that causes AIDS is small enough to get through the tiny pores in these condoms.
- Put the condom on before any contact is made.
- Unroll the condom over an erect penis. The unrolled ring should be on the outside. Unroll the condom to the base of the penis. Leave about a half-inch of space in the tip so semen can collect there.
- Squeeze the tip of the condom to get the air out.
- Pull out after ejaculating ("coming") and before the penis gets soft. Hold the condom against the base of the penis so it doesn't slip off.
- Throw away the condom. Don't reuse condoms.
What if I share needles?
The best decision for your health is to get help for your drug abuse. If you do share needles and syringes, clean them twice with bleach and water to help kill HIV. Draw bleach into the syringe and needle, then squirt it out. Do the same with water. Do both steps again.
Other Organizations
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AVERT: Averting HIV and AIDS
http://www.avert.org
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CDC National AIDS Prevention Hotline
http://www.cdc.gov
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National AIDS Hotline
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
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HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service
http://www.AIDSinfo.nih.gov
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The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
http://thebody.com
Source
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.
American Academy of Family Physicians
Reviewed/Updated: 10/09
Created: 01/96