The only way to ensure that HIV is not transmitted sexually is by not being sexually active – abstinence. It is important to understand that there is no such thing as 100% safe sex, although the use of latex barriers such as condoms in conjunction with a spermicide can make sexual activity safer (in other words, reduce, not entirely eliminate the risk). If an individual wants to entirely eliminate the possibility of sexual transmission of HIV, abstinence is the surest method.

Yes. Use of a latex condom during sex can reduce their risk of HIV infection because it reduces the chance of getting g semen, blood and vaginal secretions (fluids known to carry the virus) into the body Since condoms can break or slip, people should not rely on them as their only defense against HIV. Additional protection can be provided by using a spermicide, such as nonoxynol–9, with a condom. However, frequent spermicide use, for example more than every other day, is not advised because it can cause irritation, which may increase the risk of infection.

Yes. Research indicates that male latex condoms seem to provide better protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) However, if a male condom cannot be used, a female condom is the next best choice for protection. Male and female condoms should not be used together. Additional protection may also be provided by using a spermicide inside the condom in case it leaks or slips. Frequent spermicide use on the outside of the condom, for example more than every other day, is not advised because it can cause irritation, which may increase the risk of infection. Female condoms are available in some drug stores, though they are somewhat expensive as compared to the male condoms.

A diaphragm and spermicide provide far less protection that a male latex condom and less protection than a female condom against HIV. Findings from laboratory and animal studies suggest that a diaphragm with a spermicide may reduce the risk of HIV infection. Spermicidal jelly or cream should be applied to the rim and side of the diaphragm covering the cervix. Additional spermicide inserted directly into the vagina is also recommended. However, frequent spermicide use, for example more than every other day, is not advised because it can cause irritation, which may increase the risk of infection. A diaphragm and vaginal spermicide should be used by a woman only if a male or female condom cannot be used.

The extent to which spermicides alone may provide protection has not been well documented. Spermicides applied within the vagina may provide some protection against the virus contained in semen, but they should not be used without a condom or diaphragm. Frequent spermicide use, for example more than every other day, is not advised because it can cause irritation, which may increase the risk of infection.

WARNING: This method of protection should only be used if there are no other choices possible, as the very last resort.

No. Birth control pills, Norplant, Depo–Provera, IUD or any other birth control method that dos not keep blood, semen or vaginal secretions out of the body DOES NOT provide protection against HIV.

No. With vaginal intercourse, douching after sex does not provide protection against HIV because potentially infected semen enters the cervical canal almost immediately after ejaculation. Douching after sex does not protect against contact with blood, semen or vaginal secretions. Also, there is no evidence that douching offers any protection with regards to anal intercourse.

Yes. For people who are already infected, using condoms provides important protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unplanned pregnancy. Condoms also protect against exposure to different types or “strains” of HIV, which may be beneficial.

Drug treatment programs: Risk of infection from used syringes can be completely avoided by entering a drug treatment program and ending use of injected drugs. Drug treatment programs are available in many parts of South Asia to assist an individual in reaching recovery.

Syringes exchange programs: Risk of infection can also be avoided by using a new syringe for each injection and by not sharing syringes or works. Injection drug users may obtain unused syringes by participating in a syringe exchange program. Syringe exchange programs are available only at select sites in South Asia.

Cleaning needles and works: Risk of infection can be reduced by always cleaning injection equipment (needles and works) immediately after use and just before reuse, even if it seems to be packaged as new.

FIRST, wash out the syringe with clean water by drawing the water up through the needle to the top of the syringe, shake the set, then squirt out. DO NOT REUSE THIS WATER. Repeat at least 3 times.

NEXT, draw undiluted bleach up through the needle to the top of the syringe and shake the set. Leave the bleach in the syringe for at least 30 seconds and squirt out. DO NOT REUSE THIS BLEACH. Repeat this entire step at least 3 times.

LAST, rinse the syringe and needle with clean water. Draw the clean water up through the needle to the top of the syringe, shake the set and squirt it out. DO NOT REUSE THIS WATER. Repeat this step 3 times.

In addition to steps 1, 2 and 3, one can improve cleaning effectiveness by taking the set apart, removing the plunger from the barrel and soaking them in bleach for at least 30 seconds.

NEVER shoot or drink the bleach.

DO NOT reuse the cotton, water or cooker. However, if the cooker must be reused, soak it in bleach for at least 30 seconds and then rinse it with clean water. Since bleach loses its effectiveness with exposure to light, store all bleach for cleaning needles and works in a container that does not let light pass through.

NEVER assume a syringe is new, even if it seems to be packaged as new.

Using non–injectable, mood–altering drugs, such as alcohol or marijuana lowers one’s ability to make correct decisions about safer sex and cleaning needles and works before use.

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.

People who have HIV can give it to others when certain of their body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk pass into another person’s body. There are four main ways that our body fluids can get into another person’s body:

• by having unprotected sex (sex without a condom), that involves anal, vaginal or oral penetration,
• by sharing “works” (needles and syringes, cookers, cottons and water) when injecting drugs or other substances.
• from a mother to her child before birth, during birth, or while breast–feeding.
• Through blood transfusion from an infected to un–infected person.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks and breaks down the body’s immune system – the “internal defense force” that fights off infections and disease. When the immune system becomes weak, we lose our protection against illness and can develop serious, often life–threatening, infections and cancers.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the name for the condition that people with HIV have if they develop one of the serious infections connected with HIV, or if blood tests show that their immune system has been very badly damaged by the virus. 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.

It usually takes many years before HIV breaks down a person’s immune system and causes AIDS. Most people have few, if any, symptoms for several years after they are infected. But once HIV gets into the body, it can do serious damage to the immune system. People who appear perfectly healthy may have the virus, without knowing it, and pass it on to others.

Standard HIV tests look for HIV antibodies, which are substances the body makes after HIV enters the blood. It can take up to three months to make enough antibodies so that they will show up on the test, although in most cases, infection can be detected in four weeks. If an infected person tests too soon during this “window period”, the HIV test may not find infection, but the person can infect others. There are different kinds of blood tests, including a new test that can give you quicker results and an oral test that looks for HIV antibodies in the mucosal fluid in your mouth.

In most of the South Asian countries government hospitals offer a free, anonymous test, which means they do not take your name. Some Private clinics, , and doctors also give the test.Some clinics and “home tests” offer “immediate results,” but be warned – that’s only if you are HIV–negative. To confirm that you have HIV, your blood has to be drawn for another test.

If you get infected with HIV, your body tries to fight the infection. It makes antibodies, special molecules that are supposed to fight HIV. The most common HIV test is a blood test which looks for these antibodies. If you have them in your blood, it means that you are HIV positive.

If you become infected with HIV, it usually takes between three weeks and two to three months for your immune system to produce antibodies to HIV. If you think you were exposed to HIV, you should get tested. During your visit, speak to your doctor about the possibility of taking post–exposure prophylaxis or PEP.

You might not know if you are infected with HIV. Some people get flu–like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomachache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash four to six weeks after exposure to the virus. Most people have no symptoms at all.

People with HIV show signs of AIDS when their immune system is seriously damaged. People with AIDS can suffer from what are called opportunistic infections, such as Tuberculosis (especially in developing countries) Kaposi’s sarcoma (a skin cancer), PCP (a lung infection), CMV (a virus that infects the eyes), and candida (a fungal infection). AIDS–related diseases also include severe weight loss, brain tumors, and a myriad of other health problems.

AIDS shows up differently in every infected person. Some people die soon after getting infected, while others live fairly normal lives for many years after they are diagnosed with AIDS.

There are now treatments available that can slow down the replication of HIV in your body, along with any immune system damage. The treatment is called anti–retroviral therapy. However, there is currently no cure for 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, and, 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 developed AIDS.

Anyone can become infected with HIV. The risk is higher among those who indulge in unprotected sex with multiple partners and injecting drug users who share their injection equipment.

The surest way to completely avoid HIV infection from injection drug use is to abstain. The next surest way is to use a brand new syringe every time you inject. If brand new syringes are not available, properly bleaching a used syringe may be an effective method of reducing HIV transmission.

In addition to needles, sharing cookers, cottons, other parts of the syringe (e.g. the barrel and plunger), or water used for mixing/bleaching also can transmit HIV. To avoid infection, these items must not be shared.

Drugs – injected or not – can also increase a person’s risk for HIV by impairing judgement, decision–making ability, and/or by enhancing sexual drive. Studies have shown that – even when drunk or high – people can successfully use condoms and clean needles/syringes. Nonetheless, people who are drunk or high often take more risks than if they were sober.

There are several types of HIV antibody tests used today. All are highly accurate at detecting HIV antibodies, specific proteins made in response to an HIV infection. After infection with HIV, however, it can take up to 3 months for HIV antibodies to develop. A negative HIV antibody test result means that a person does not have detectable HIV antibodies at the time of the test. Since it can take up to 3 months after HIV infection for antibodies to develop, a negative test result is reliable only if the person has not had any sexual or needle–sharing risk behavior during the 3 months prior to testing. Some people with recent risk behavior will test HIV antibody negative, yet may have actually been infected during the previous 3 months, these people will also likely be highly infectious and may easily transmit HIV to their sex and needle–sharing partners. Finally, a negative test result does not mean that a person is safe from future HIV infection. People who test HIV antibody negative are urged to continue to follow HIV prevention guidelines to avoid becoming infected. And people who continue risk behaviors should retest at least every 6 months. A positive HIV antibody test result means that HIV antibodies are present and that the person has HIV infection. It does not mean the person has AIDS, although many HIV–positive people may develop AIDS after years of infection with HIV. Anyone who tests HIV–positive can transmit the virus to others, regardless of how long they have been infected, whether they have AIDS or other symptoms, or whether their HIV infection is being treated effectively. It is extremely important that HIV–positive people follow HIV prevention guidelines, not only to protect their partners from getting HIV infection, but also to protect themselves from infection with other germs that could cause HIV/AIDS–related disease.

No, but, in recent years,doctors have become much better at identifying, monitoring, and treating HIV infection and AIDS. In particular, drugs known as protease inhibitors – when used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs – may dramatically improve the health and quality of life for many people living with HIV/AIDS.

While there is not currently a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS, there are many things that people infected with HIV can do to keep themselves healthy and to live longer. The first step for anyone who has HIV infection is to see a qualified doctor.

The benefits of early diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS are important reasons for people at risk for HIV infection to learn their HIV antibody status through testing. For people not infected, but at increased risk of infection, it is important to get tested regularly (every 3–6 months) for HIV antibodies. One purpose of regular testing is to assure that those who are newly infected with HIV may be assessed and treated at the earliest possible opportunity. Another purpose is to minimize the chance of HIV transmission when people are newly infected and highly infectious.

Although medical care and drugs are expensive, programs exist to ensure that people with HIV infection and AIDS can get assessment and treatment.