What you should know
about HIV/AIDS.

What are HIV and AIDS?
How do you get HIV?
How do I make sure I don’t get HIV?
What should I do if I think I may have HIV?
Is HIV the only disease I should be worried about?

1. What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In short: your body has white blood cells that fight against disease. HIV weakens the immune system by attacking those white blood cells that protect the body from germs. People who are HIV positive can get sick very easily; even a mild winter cold can be very serious. Most people who have HIV got it from someone who didn’t get tested and don’t know they have it. Often it’s years before serious symptoms appear; symptoms which could have been avoided if one gets tested, knows their status and starts taking medication.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. At some point the body becomes so weak from HIV that it can no longer fight off disease. This condition is called AIDS; but people don’t die from AIDS. Usually they die from a disease they get once they have AIDS, like cancer or pneumonia. AIDS is the final stage of HIV. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS; however, some people are able to extend their life with the use of medication. Unfortunately, the drugs can have unpleasant side effects; they’re expensive and complicated to manage, so you’ll need to make frequent visits to the doctor for the rest of your life. (back to top)

2. How do you get HIV?

You get HIV by coming into contact with the HIV virus through:

Semen
Blood
Vaginal fluids
Breast milk
Childbirth

HIV is not infectious in any other body fluid, such as saliva, tears, sweat, urine or mucous.

You CAN get HIV from:

Unprotected sex with someone who has HIV — including anal, vaginal and rarely oral sex
Sharing needles — injecting drugs, getting a tattoo or piercing
Breast feeding or childbirth
Any type of contact with HIV infected blood
An organ transplant

You CAN NOT get HIV from:

Kissing or sharing silverware with someone who has HIV. You can’t get HIV from saliva.
Toilet seats
Swimming pools and hot tubs
Sneezing or coughing — once again, you can’t get HIV from someone’s mouth.
Hugging, cuddling, body rubbing, masturbating or massaging.

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3. How do I make sure I don’t get or give HIV?

Simply put, avoid behavior that puts you, or others, at risk.

Don’t have sex. Abstaining from sex is one way to protect yourself and others from HIV.
If you have sex, always use protection. Condoms and dental dams will do the trick but don’t use Vaseline with them. Use only water based lubricants.
Stop using drugs.. If you can’t stop; get help at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or call 211 careline.
If you use injection drugs, use a clean needle. Never share drug paraphernalia such as needles, cookers, water glasses or cotton balls. Needle exchanges allow users to swap used needles for new ones.
Go to a professional for tattoos and piercings. Make sure they sterilize equipment between customers or use disposable needles and ink dispensers. Avoid piercing guns because they can’t be properly sterilized. Always ask your tattoo artist how they sterilize their tattoo equipment.
Pregnancy. If you’re pregnant and HIV positive, or think you’ve been exposed to HIV, see your doctor immediately. There are drugs a mother can take to reduce the chance of passing on HIV to her unborn child.
While all this may seem like common sense, common sense doesn’t always rule when you’re under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Stay cool. And before you do the wrong thing, think about what you have to lose.

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4. What should I do if I think I may have HIV?

Get tested. Most people start developing antibodies — that’s what a health care professional will test for — within two to eight weeks of getting the virus. For some people it takes longer. In rare instances it can take up to 6 months for a person to develop enough antibodies to show up in a test. That’s how a person who tests negative can pass on the virus. And why the first test should always be followed up with a second in 6 months, just to be sure.

While you’re waiting for your test results, avoid risky behavior. If your test comes back positive be prepared to share that information with your partner or others who may have been exposed. As difficult as that can be, silence only makes a bad situation worse. (back to top)

5. Is HIV the only disease I should be worried about?

No. There are over 25 different diseases you can get from having unprotected sex. Symptoms range from mild to extremely painful. And while most can be cured or managed with drugs, early detection is always best.

Some of the most common infections are:

Genital warts
Chlamydia
Genital herpes
Gonorrhea
Syphilis

The national Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all Americans make STD/HIV testing part of a regular preventative care program. (back to top)

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