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HIV and AIDS
Condoms are the ONLY form of contraceptive that protects against sexual infections.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system (the body’s disease fighting system). HIV makes it difficult for your body to fight against infections and cancers.
If a HIV positive person does not get proper treatment they can progress very quickly to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is a disease in which the immune system breaks down and the body is unable to fight off certain infections.
- Your partner or one night stand can be HIV positive and not know it. Always use condoms.
- You can be HIV positive and not know it so if you’re sexually active it’s a good idea to have regular STI check ups.
- Once you have HIV, you are infected for life and have the potential to infect others.
How is HIV spread?
The virus is passed through blood and body fluids. This means that blood, semen, women’s vaginal liquids and breast milk can all carry the virus.
You can get HIV from sex (vaginal, anal or oral) without using a condom. The risk of getting HIV from oral sex is low but it CAN happen especially if there are cuts or sores on the vagina, penis, mouth or throat or if the woman has her period.
You can also catch HIV from infected blood and blood products and by sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment that hasn’t been properly sterilised, or from sharing razor blades. A woman with HIV can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. However, nowadays you can prevent the baby becoming HIV positive by giving the mother special treatment before, during and after delivery.
HIV is unable to survive outside of the body. You cannot get HIV from hugging, kissing, toilet seats or using the same cup as an infected person.
What are the symptoms?
- You need to have a blood test to find out if you’ve got HIV. It can take three or four months after initial exposure to HIV for a HIV test to show positive. Therefore if the risk of being infected with HIV is strong, the doctor will recommend that you have another blood test at three months.
- It takes 7-10 years for most HIV positive people to show symptoms of the illness.
- Early symptoms can include swollen lymph glands in the throat, armpits and groin, fever, headaches, tiredness and muscle pain.
- If you are HIV positive you might be healthy for years but can still pass the virus to other people.
What treatment can you get?
There is no cure for HIV and AIDS but there are treatments available that slow down the progress of HIV. If you are pregnant and HIV positive you can receive treatment during pregnancy and labour that help prevent the risk of your baby being infected by the virus. You need to talk to your doctor about the available options. Your partner and recent partners should also be tested.
How can you avoid getting HIV and AIDS?
- Always use condoms during vaginal sex, oral sex and anal sex with new partners. Make sure that both you and your partner are tested for sexually transmitted infections before deciding to stop using condoms.
- If you take drugs involving injection never share needles or equipment with other people and disinfect needles before using them.
- If you’re getting a piercing or tattoo check the needles are new or sterilized.
- Avoid sex if you or your partner has sores, raw skin or blisters around the vagina, anus (bum) or penis.
- It's important to remember that in the Western world, many people who are HIV positive now live to a ripe old age thanks to modern treatment.
