What are the myths about HIV?What about drugs?Is regular HIV testing important?How can I protect myself and my partner?
It is important to take steps to reduce your risk of getting HIV.
The most reliable way to avoid transmission of STDs and HIV is to
not have sex (i.e. oral, vaginal, or anal sex), to be in a long-term,
mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner, and
to not share needles for injecting drugs.
Correct and consistent use of the male latex condom can reduce
the risk of STD transmission. However, no protective method is
100 percent effective, and condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection
against any STD including HIV. The more sex partners you have,
the greater your chances are of coming in contact with HIV or other diseases
passed through sex. Condoms used with a lubricant are less likely
to break. However, condoms with the spermicide nonoxynol-9 are not
recommended for STD/HIV prevention. Condoms must be used correctly and
consistently to be effective and protective. Incorrect use can lead to condom
slippage or breakage, reducing the protective effect. Inconsistent use, meaning
failure to use condoms with every act of intercourse, can result in
STD/HIV transmission because transmission can occur with a single sexual act.
If you have recently tested negative for HIV, that does not mean that your partner is also negative; your HIV test result only reveals your HIV status. Your negative test result does not indicate whether or not your partner has HIV. HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time you have sex. Therefore, your taking an HIV test should not be seen as a method to find out whether your partner is infected. Ask your partner if he or she has been tested for HIV and what risk behaviors he or she has engaged in, both currently and in the past.
If you are not sure that both you and your partner are HIV negative, then think about getting tested together.
If you think you may have been exposed to another STD such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or Chlamydia, get tested and get treated. These diseases can increase your risk of getting HIV. It is important to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B virus. You should also ask about the HPV vaccine.
Do not share needles for ear piercing, body piercing or tattooing. If someone with HIV used a needle before you, you could get HIV. You should also not share razors or toothbrushes because it is possible for them to have the blood of another person on them.
You CANNOT get HIV:
- By working with or being around someone who has HIV.
- From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet seats, or through everyday activities like sharing a meal.
- From insect bites or stings.
- From donating blood.
- From a closed-mouth kiss (but there is a very small chance of getting it from open-mouthed or "French" kissing with an infected person because of possible blood contact).
What about drugs?
Sharing needles, syringes and other drug injection equipment can transmit HIV from an infected person to an uninfected person. If you do use drugs, then be sure to use new needles and equipment each time. Do not share needles, syringes or other works, and never buy needles on the street, even if they look new.
Substance abuse can also lead to poor decision-making, which can increase your chances of contracting HIV. For example, if you are drunk or high, you are less likely to think about protecting yourself and others from HIV and other STDs. Using any drug lowers your ability to make decisions about safer sex and using clean needles and works.
Is regular HIV testing important?
When a person is newly infected with HIV, the HIV antibody test can take up to 3 months to detect HIV in your body.
There is a period of time between the time of infection and the time that an HIV test can detect the antibodies of an HIV infection, called the "window period." People who are in this window period may receive a negative test result, but are in fact positive and can transmit the infection to other people. This is why it is important to get tested again if you have engaged in any risky behaviors. A negative test does not mean that you are immune to HIV or that you may not get it in the future.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 5 people who are infected with HIV in the United States do not know it. They recommend that anyone who is between 13 and 64 and is sexually active be tested for HIV. If you are negative, you can take steps to make sure you stay that way. If you are positive, the sooner you know it, the better so that you can take advantage of the treatments available and avoid infecting other people. The test is easy and you can get your results in as little as 20 minutes. HIV testing should be a part of your regular health check-up just like blood pressure and other screening tests.
It is also important to talk about a few of the myths about HIV and how it is transmitted.
