What you need to K NO W about

HIV / AIDS and Safer Sex

What is HIV?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. It enters the blood stream and weakens the body's immune system. The immune system protects the body against disease. HIV gradually stops the immune system, from working properly. This causes the body to experience many different infections as well as development of certain cancers.

What is AIDS?

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a contagious disease caused by HIV. Being infected with HIV does not mean that the patient has AIDS. People feel fine during the early years of the HIV infection, and are not aware they are infected. When serious opportunistic infection and cancers develop, then the diagnosis of AIDS is made.

How HIV is transmitted?

HIV is mainly transmitted by blood, vaginal fluids, semen and other body fluids such as breast milk.

Things that can cause you to get HIV are:

Having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an HIV- infected person.

Using a HIV-contaminated needle / body piercing.

An HIV-infected mother passing the virus to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding.

HIV/AIDS is not spread by:

Kissing

Hugging

Coughing / Sneezing

Handshakes

Sharing food or plates

Toilet seats

Mosquitoes

What can be done to prevent the HIV infection?

Do not share needles, syringes, razor blades or toothbrushes

Sexual Abstinence

If abstinence is not posible, always use CONDOMS to prevent the exchange of body fluids.

Practice safe sex.

What is safe sex?

Choosing

Safer (or safe) sex means choosing sexual activities where there is no exchange of body fluids.