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HIV and AIDS: |
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HIV is a virus which can be passed from one person to another in a number of ways, including through sexual contact.
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Anyone who is sexually active can get it. Both men and women can have HIV, and pass it on through sexual contact.
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Anyone who is sexually active can get it. Both men and women can have HIV, and pass it on through sexual contact.
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You can pass HIV on without knowing you have the virus because it has no specific symptoms. Once someone is infected with HIV they will remain infected with the virus for the rest of their life. It is estimated that approximately one-third of people in the UK who have HIV do not know they have the virus.
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Someone infected with HIV is diagnosed as having AIDS when they develop particular illnesses. This is because HIV weakens their immune system to the point at which it has difficulty fighting off infections that would otherwise be controlled by a healthy immune system. |
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Passing of HIV: |
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The only way that HIV is passed from one person to another is if the blood, semen, pre-ejaculate (precum), vaginal fluids or breast milk of an infected person enter the body of an uninfected person:
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by having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or sharing sex toys with someone who has HIV (unprotected sex means having sex without using a condom)
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by using a needle or syringe (‘works’) which has already been used by someone who is infected with HIV
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when a woman with HIV passes the virus to her baby before or during birth, or by breastfeeding. There is a risk of catching HIV from unprotected oral sex, although the risk appears to be less than from unprotected anal or vaginal sex. You are more at risk of becoming infected with HIV from oral sex if your throat or mouth is inflamed, or if you have cuts, sores or abrasions in your mouth or on your gums. |
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In the UK all health professionals – such as dentists, doctors and nurses – are required to follow infection control procedures when caring for any patient. Also, in the UK , blood and organ donors are tested to prevent HIV being transmitted through infected blood, blood products or donated organs. This means that it is now extremely rare to become infected with HIV through receiving healthcare in the UK . It is completely safe to donate blood in the UK .
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Some countries do not have the same standards of medical and dental care as the UK , so there may be a risk of getting HIV from infected blood products or unsterile medical equipment. |
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You cannot get HIV from hugging, kissing, sharing baths or towels, from swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
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Protect yourself from HIV: |
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Use a male or female condom every time you have vaginal sex. The spermicide Nonoxynol 9, used to lubricate some condoms, does not protect against HIV and may even increase the risk of infection. If you can, avoid using condoms or spermicide containing Nonoxynol 9.
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Always use condoms for anal sex. Evidence shows that standard strength condoms can be just as effective as extra strong condoms if used with plenty of water-based lubricant. Make sure the condoms and lubricant do not contain Nonoxynol 9.
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For oral sex, cover the penis with a condom. Currently there is little evidence that HIV will be passed from one person to another when performing oral sex on a woman.
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If it’s not possible to use a condom for oral sex, try to avoid: |
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ejaculation into the mouth |
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oral sex with a woman during her period |
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oral sex if your throat or mouth is inflamed or you have cuts, sores or abrasions in your mouth or on your gums
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brushing or flossing your teeth before oral sex. |
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Signs and symptoms of HIV: |
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Some people experience flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after infection. These may include fever, a rash, swollen glands, a sore throat, mouth or throat ulcers and aching muscles or joints. These symptoms are sometimes called sero-conversion illness and usually last for about one to two weeks. At least half of newly infected people are thought to experience some of these symptoms, but many people infected with HIV have no symptoms at all or mistake them for flu or other common illnesses.Some people are first diagnosed with HIV when their immune system has become weakened and they become ill.
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How will I know if I have the virus? |
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You won’t know unless you have a test for HIV: this involves giving a blood sample which is then checked for antibodies to HIV. Antibodies are your body’s response to infection with a virus. If HIV antibodies are present then it means that you are infected with HIV (also described as being HIV positive). If you think you might have been at risk of HIV, you may want to consider having a test, particularly if:
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you have had unprotected sex with a new partner recently |
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you or your partner has had unprotected sex with other partners |
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a sexual partner tells you they have HIV |
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you have shared drug injecting equipment |
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you are found to have another STI |
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Treatment of HIV: |
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Once HIV is diagnosed, a number of tests monitor the stage of the infection and indicate whether or when treatment should be started.
At the moment there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but there are drugs available to prevent or treat many of the illnesses that people with HIV are prone to. There are also treatments with antivirus drugs – known as antiretroviral treatment or combination therapy – that most people with HIV benefit from, and many people have definite and major health improvements. The drugs reduce the level of HIV in the blood and delay the development of AIDS. Most people who use these treatments live longer and feel better. However, the drugs can have unpleasant side-effects and a combination of different drugs may have to be taken every day. Some people find this difficult to cope with. The long-term effects of taking antiretroviral therapy are not yet known.
In addition, there are drugs and other steps which, taken together, can greatly reduce the risk of an HIV positive pregnant woman passing the infection to her unborn baby.
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Can HIV go away on its own? |
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No. Once you are infected with HIV you will remain infected with the virus for the rest of your life. There is currently no way of curing the virus or removing it from the body. Although antiretroviral therapies can greatly reduce the amount of virus in the body, you will still be infectious and should use condoms for vaginal, anal and oral sex.
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HIV & Fertility: |
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Many women with HIV are able to become pregnant, and men with HIV can father children.
If you wish to avoid a pregnancy you need to use contraception. HIV positive men and women who are planning a pregnancy should seek specialist advice to help minimize the risk of infecting an HIV negative partner or the baby.
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Source: Website of FPA (Family Planning Association) of UK
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