22 October 2009
HIV, How You Get It
I thought I’d give you guys some facts about HIV and the way it is transmitted. I know you’ve probably heard a lot of stuff, some of it probably true, and some of it probably not so true. I just want to make sure the true stuff is what’s rising to the top.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is found in transmissible rates (enough to get you infected) in blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It is also found in tears, but not amounts high enough to cause transmission.
HIV cannot be transmitted through casual skin to skin contact, including contact with sweat. So, you don’t have to worry about getting HIV from using a public gym or touching some one with the virus. Hugging your positive friends is totally safe, and they could probably use the support.
You can’t get HIV through closed-mouth kissing. There has only been one case of HIV transmission through french-kissing, but unless both of you have gaping, bleeding sores if your mouth, you should be fine. And if you have sores like that in your mouth, go to the doctor. No one wants to be kissing that.
The primary method of HIV transmission is sex. Two people getting down and dirty without protection. Condoms are the method of prevention here. Don’t use lambskin or “natural” condoms, though. They’ve got tiny pores in them that are too small for sperm to get through, but aren’t small enough to prevent HIV viruses from getting through. If he’s allergic to latex, most female condoms are made with another type of plastic that shouldn’t irritate his skin. Male or female condoms work equally well, but make sure that you know how to use them. Most condoms come with instructions inside the box. The key here is regular use. Just forgetting a single time can be all it takes to hurt yourself or some one you care about for the rest of your lives.
And I’m talking about all kinds of sex, not just penis in the vagina sex. You need to use protection for oral and anal sex, too. Dental dams for going down on a girl, condoms for going down on a guy.
One note about condoms and anal sex. Nonoxynol-9 is a spermicide used on some condoms, and it has been linked to a higher rate of HIV transmission when used in anal sex. Apparently it can cause sores in some people when used in that way. Those sores mean more openings for HIV to take advantage of. So, for anal sex, a condom is still a must, just make sure that it isn’t coated in nonoxynol-9.
The second most common method of transmission is through used needles. There is blood on a needle after it has been used, and HIV can survive for a few hours outside of the body in dried blood. Unfortunately, there isn’t a needle exchange program in the Mid-South, so make sure that you aren’t using old needles. That goes for tattoo and piercing needles, too. Don’t let your friend pierce your ears with the same needle she just used on herself, and definitely don’t let your friend “practice” on you with the homemade tattoo gun he made. In tattoo and piercing parlors, make sure that you see the needles come out of a new, medically sealed package.
That’s it. What you need to know to SNAPOUT about HIV transmission. I hope it cleared some stuff up for you. If you’ve got any questions or comments, feel free to add them.
