Common Questions on HIV: Part 2

Welcome back to our common questions on HIV forum. If you missed reading out on Part 1, you can click here to recap. Here are more common questions that I hear on a regular basis as an HIV educator and tester that are featured below. As mentioned last time, we do not hold back the truth. We get tastefully graphic if necessary to make sure you understand the risks surrounding HIV. Here at the HIV/AIDS Awareness Network we believe the best tool we can give to people is education, so you have the tools to empower yourself and others to protect yourself from HIV. The theme for this week's Q and A is Testing.

Only prostitutes and drug users are at risk for contracting HIV, right?

Wrong. Anyone who has unprotected sex is at risk of contracting HIV. It's so important to be aware of your own status and your partner's status and to get tested for HIV on a regular basis.

I had sex last night and the condom broke. He told me he has HIV. I'm terrified I might now have HIV. Can the test tell you as early as the next day?

Unfortunately, no. There is what's called a "window period" with any HIV test. This "window period" is the amount of time it takes for the HIV virus to become detectable in your body- usually a minimum of 3 months. If you are worried, you can still get tested for HIV that next day. However, to know whether or not you might have contracted HIV from your partner last night, you need to be tested again for HIV 3 months from that date and again in 6 months.

Who is more at risk for HIV, men or women?

That is a loaded question and I will answer that will a politically correct answer. If you recall the 4 body fluids that can transmit HIV (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk), then the most important part is to take into consideration male and female anatomy and different types of sex. Let's quickly review the different types of sex- anal sex, vaginal sex, and oral sex. Anal sex is the most risky type of sex because there is usually broken blood vessels and blood exchange involved. Whoever is the receptor partner of anal sex or vaginal sex or oral sex for that matter is more at risk than the "inserter".
You can read more about this topic by clicking here.

How often should I get tested for HIV?

It depends. If you are in a committed, monogamous relationship where you and your partner have discussed testing, have possible gone and got tested together, and you yourself have opted for regular testing in the past, then 1x per year is a good idea. If you have regular protected sex with multiple partners, assuming you are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and have used a condom properly every time, you can opt for testing every 6 months. However, if you have regular unprotected sex, you should opt for testing every 3 months.

What are my options for getting tested for HIV?

Depending on where you live in the world, your options will vary. If you live in the United States near a major metropolitan area, you most likely have access to a county health department which will have HIV testing available. Depending on that clinic or health department's funding, all the following options may or may not be available. With that being said, here are the options most widely available for getting tested in the United States. They are ranked by accuracy:

HIV Blood test- a sample of blood is taken from your arm and sent off to a lab for processing. Average 2 week wait time to get results. Any unprotected exposures through sex or sharing needles or exposure of risky body fluids in the last 3 months, should warrant a test again in 3 months.

20 minute HIV rapid test- finger prick is done on by a certified HIV tester and counselor. Results are available in 20 minutes. Any unprotected exposures through sex or sharing needles or exposure of risky body fluids in the last 3 months, should warrant a test again in 3 months.

Oral Swab HIV test- oral mouth swab is swiped by the person getting tested for 2 minutes in their oral cavity. Oral swab is then collected from the patient and sent off to the lab. Average 2 week wait time to get results. Any unprotected exposures through sex or sharing needles or exposure of risky body fluids in the last 3 months, should warrant a test again in 3 months. **Not widely used anymore due to superior accuracy of other testing available.**

Have a question? Email us! irchiv@gmail.com We would love to answer it, or find the answer for you, and post it up here on the blog. All questions will remain anonymous. Your name or email will never be published. More "Common Questions" to come.....

Dont' stop using condoms

HIV increase in gay men caused by fall in condom use

A modest increase in unprotected sex is enough to erode the benefits of other interventions, researchers said

They found a 26% rise, from 1990-2010, in the proportion of

men who have sex with men who did not use condoms.

Rates of HIV have been rising in recent years with latest figures showing cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK reaching an all-time high.

A recent report from the HPA found that nearly half of the 6,280 people diagnosed in the UK in 2011 were MSM.

Overall, one in 20 MSM are infected with HIV.

For this study, researchers analysed data from 1990 to 2010. They concluded that, without the introduction of anti-retroviral drugs to treat those with HIV, infections would be 68% higher in MSM.

Therapy with anti-retrovirals lowers the risk of people with HIV infecting others.

The report suggested the incidence of HIV could be 32% lower if all anti-retroviral treatment were prescribed from the moment of diagnosis rather than when health declined.

Informed choices

Further analysis showed that, if all MSM had stopped using condoms from 2000, rates of HIV in this group would now be 400% higher, the journal PLoS One reported.

The data also showed that the incidence of HIV could have dropped by a quarter if more HIV testing had been done.

But the researchers said the results showed that even a modest increase in unprotected sex was enough to erode the benefits of other interventions.

Study leader Professor Andrew Phillips, from University College London, said: "By better understanding the driving forces behind the trends we've seen in the past, it will allow us to make informed choices to reduce new HIV infections in the future."

Co-author Dr Valerie Delpech, who is head of HIV surveillance at the HPA, said: "Everyone should use a condom when having sex with new or casual partners, until all partners have had a sexual health screen.

"We also encourage men who have sex with men to get an HIV and STI screen at least annually, and every three months if having condomless sex with new or casual partners - and clinicians to take every opportunity to recommend HIV testing to this group."

Sir Nick Partridge, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said condom use by gay men had played a key part in containing the spread of HIV in the UK.

"Without it, there would have been 80,000 more gay men with HIV between 2000 and 2010."

He added that the study showed the impact of the combined HIV strategy of promoting condoms, increasing regular HIV testing and encouraging the earlier use of anti-HIV drug therapy.

He added: "At a time when funding for local HIV prevention programmes is under threat, this only reinforces the important role which local authorities can and must play in funding local HIV prevention."

Common Questions on HIV: Part 1

Ok so let's get down to the nitty gritty here. Let's get real with talking about the basics of HIV and AIDS. We will start with HIV. Here are the most common questions I've gotten in the field, young and old alike....

What exactly is it?

HIV stands for Human Immuno-deficiency virus. It's a virus that only affects humans. You can only get it from another human being and it can only be passed between human beings. You cannot get/give HIV to/from animals. There is no vaccine and no cure (at the moment).

How do you get it?

You can be exposed to HIV when any of your mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, vaginal opening, tip of penis, anal opening) or any openings/cuts in your body are exposed to the following fluids of another human being- male or female:

blood
male sexual fluids (semen)
female sexual fluids (vaginal fluids)
breast milk

What do I have to do to avoid it altogether. Or tell me who to avoid. I don't want to get it.

The only way to avoid contracting HIV is by never having sex, ever. Never having a blood transfusion at any point in your life, never working near or with blood or bodily fluids that can transmit HIV, and quite frankly never being born. I quite honestly hate this question when I get asked it, no offense to anyone who has asked it or ever will ask it. It's a perfectly understandable question to ask about HIV. It's more important to understand how you can get it, so you can make your own life decisions on how to avoid it, or better protect yourself from the virus. Being careful to remain abstinent until you are ready to start making good decisions on whom you have sex with, is extremely important. When you do decide to start having sex, using condoms every time is smart.

Do condoms really protect me?

Yes. Condoms work when used properly. They must be put on before any sexual fluids are exchanged- including pre-cum.

Can I get it from a toilet seat?

No. However, if you rub any of your mucous membranes (as listed above) on the surface of the toilet where the 4 body fluids that are capable of transmitting HIV are present, then possibly. No licking toilets.

Can I get it from sharing a toothbrush?

No. not unless there is blood exchanged and that person whom you are sharing said toothbrush has HIV.

I'm married, I'm not at risk. right?

WRONG. Unfortunately, we have seen a huge increase in HIV rates in the over 40 year old population and in those who are married, because of this false sense of security within a married relationship. It's always important to be communicating with your partner, and even if you've been married for years, get an HIV test (and full STD screen) every year (males and females). If you do test positive for HIV, you want to catch it as early as possible.

Have a question? Email us! irchiv@gmail.com We would love to answer it, or find the answer for you, and post it up here on the blog. All questions will remain anonymous. Your name or email will never be published. More "Common Questions" to come.....

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