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| >> HIV & STDs | ||||||
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>> FAQ About HIV and STDs What is HIV? Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. It attacks the human immune system. Over time (and without effective treatment), HIV gradually destroys the body's defenses against disease, leaving it vulnerable to many infections and cancers that would not normally develop in healthy people. Even without treatment, some people with HIV infection have no symptoms at all, some have mild health problems, while others have severe health problems associated with AIDS. What is AIDS? Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a late stage of HIV infection. By the time a diagnosis of AIDS is made, HIV will already have seriously damaged the body's immune system. Often, a person with an AIDS diagnosis will already have had a life-threatening infection or cancer. Before the use of effective treatment, it commonly took 10 years or more from the time of initial HIV infection to a diagnosis of AIDS. On average, it would take another two to four years before death. However, new treatments are radically slowing the destruction of the immune system caused by HIV and lengthening life expectancy. Some people with HIV infection may never develop AIDS. How is HIV transmitted? HIV is transmitted when infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk enter another person's body. This most often occurs during unprotected sex or during injection drug use (when needles or other drug paraphernalia are shared). HIV is spread in the following ways: Unprotected sexual intercourse HIV can enter the body during sex through the mucous membranes of the anus, vagina, penis (urethra), or mouth; AND through cuts, sores, and abrasions on the skin. Unprotected anal and vaginal sex are the riskiest sexual activities. There are a small, but growing, number of reported cases of HIV transmission through oral sex; however, the risk of oral sex transmission is clearly lower than for anal or vaginal sex. Injection drug use Using shared, unsterile needles and syringes carries a high risk of HIV transmission. Sharing cookers, cottons, and water for mixing/bleaching can also transmit HIV. From an infected mother to her infant HIV can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, during birth, or through breast-feeding. When treatment is taken, though, the HIV transmission rate from a mother to her baby is greatly reduced. Consequently, all pregnant women should see their doctor, be tested for HIV and obtain recommended treatment. HIV is rarely transmitted in the following ways: Blood transfusions and organ transplants The risk of acquiring HIV from a blood transfusion or organ transplantation today is estimated to be about 1 in every 600,000 transfusions. Blood and organ banks screen out most potential donors at risk for HIV infection in advance. They then do extensive testing on specimens of blood, blood products, and organs for HIV and other blood-borne germs. The health care setting There is a very small, but real, risk of health care workers getting HIV from patients as a result of needle stick accidents and other substantial blood exposures. The risk of patients getting infected from health care workers is also very small. HIV is not transmitted by: Casual contact HIV is not spread by casual contact. It dies quickly outside the body and is easily killed by soap and by common disinfectants such as bleach. There is no risk of HIV infection from: donating blood, mosquito bites, toilet seats, shaking hands, hugging, sharing eating utensils, food or objects handled by people with HIV or AIDS, or by spending time in the same house, business, or public place with a person with HIV/AIDS. How can I prevent HIV during sexual contact? • Abstaining from sex with others is the surest method to preventing HIV infection through sexual transmission. • Having sex with one HIV-negative partner who only has sex with you is the next surest method to preventing infection. • When used consistently and correctly, condoms are extremely effective at reducing the risk of HIV transmission. • Touching, dry kissing, body rubbing and mutual masturbation are some examples of sexual activities that are extremely safe. • When acquiring a new sex partner, abstain or use condoms for three months and then get tested for HIV. If both partners are HIV-negative and not engaging in other risk behaviors (e.g., sharing needles or having other sex partners), you do not have to worry about HIV infection. How can I prevent HIV during Injection Drug Use? • Abstaining from injection drug use is the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission through drug use. • If you are injecting drugs, use a brand new syringe every time you inject. • If new syringes are unavailable, properly bleaching a used syringe may effectively reduce HIV transmission. • Do not share drug injection equipment (including cookers, cottons and water used for mixing/bleaching) with others. Above information courtesy Public Health – Seattle & King County. |
>> Free Testing for Youth MPowerment has parterned with King County Public Health to offer FREE confidential HIV and STD screening.  Join us at one of our quarterly events for testing on the spot, or drop by the MPowerment Loft on the third Friday of every month between 3pm and 7pm. |
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