(Please Read)HIV Faqs : Courtesy from HealingWell Forums

[LoneEagle]

Dear Fellow Samsters,
I found this thread from HealingWell and I think is very useful, I hope it will help to answer and calm those who have great worries.


Questions and Answers about HIV
1. What is HIV? What is AIDS?
2. Who can get HIV?
3. What are the ways in which HIV can be spread from one person to another?
4. Can I get HIV from oral sex?
5. How long does HIV live outside the body?
6. Can having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) increase my risk?
7. What are common signs and symptoms of HIV?
8. How does an HIV test work?
9. What happens if an ELISA is "reactive"?
10. How long should I wait to test and what is the window period?
11. Why do some places say to wait 3 months, 6 months, etc. to test?
12. Will taking antibiotics or other medicines affect my test results?
13. Is an HIV positive diagnosis a "death sentence"?
14. Can an HIV positive person catch the virus again?
15. What can I do to prevent myself becoming infected with HIV?
16 How can I practice safer sex?
17. Pregnanacy and HIV
18. Kissing and HIV. What if there's blood in the saliva?


1. What is HIV? What is AIDS?

HIV is the medical abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus that affects the immune system of humans.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS occurs when the virus has nearly depleted a persons immune system, leaving their body very susceptible to a variety of opportunistic infections (viruses and bacteria that usually affect only people with weak immune systems).


2. Who can get HIV?

Anyone. Barring a few circumstances, HIV is mainly a behavior-driven illness spread carelessly by lack of education, unprotected sex, dishonesty and drug abuse. Education, safety and honesty are important in slowing the spread of the virus.


3. What are the ways in which HIV can be spread from one person to another?

Transmission of HIV is dependant on a number of conditions being fulfilled. Understanding these conditions gives a better understanding of how HIV is transmitted:

First, there must be a source of HIV infection. HIV exists in certain bodily fluids of persons infected with HIV. These include blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.

Second, there must be a way for HIV to be transmitted to the bloodstream of an uninfected person. Unprotected sexual intercourse and sharing drug-injecting equipment are the most common ways to transmit the virus.

Third, there must be a person susceptible for infection. HIV transmission only takes place from one human to another. Mosquitoes, for instance cannot become infected with HIV and pass it on to humans.

Finally, a sufficient amount of HIV must enter the blood of an uninfected person for infection to be established. If insufficient HIV enters the bloodstream, transmission of HIV infection will not occur.


4. Can I get HIV from performing oral sex?

Yes, it is possible. Does it happen very often? No.

The mouth is an inhospitable environment for HIV (in semen, vaginal fluid or blood), meaning the risk of HIV transmission through the throat, gums, and oral membranes is lower than through vaginal or anal membranes. This is due to the fact that human saliva contains enzymes that are harmful to the virus.

There have been documented cases where HIV was transmitted orally, so we can't say that getting HIV-infected semen, vaginal fluid or blood in the mouth is without risk. However, the risk is significantly lower than that of vaginal or anal intercourse.

Other factors that may increase the risk of contracting HIV through oral sex are actively-bleeding cuts, recent oral surgery or the presence of another STI in the mouth.

You can safely engage in oral sex by using a condom or dental dam with lubrication underneath. If you choose not to use a barrier, try to avoid ingesting ejaculate fluids by removing your mouth before climax.

If you ingest semen or vaginal fluid, spit it out soon afterwards. Flush the mouth with water or a soda drink. Even if you do not do this, however, risk for infection this way is still very low. If one of the 4 HIV carrying bodily fluids is swallowed, stomach acid will kill any HIV nearly instantly, and transmission cannot occur from a dead virus.
To reduce the already low risk further:

Avoid using mouthwash or drinking alcoholic beverages before or during oral sex, as they have been found by a recent UCLA study to weaken both the enzymes in saliva and the gums.

Wait at least two hours after brushing your teeth before engaging in oral sex in order to give your gums time to heal from being disturbed.

Generally, the better your oral health is, the lower your already-low risk will be


5. How long does HIV live outside of the body?

Not very long. Almost all viruses contain tiny little protein plugs that help them attach and infect. But the plugs on an HIV viral cell are very fragile. Once exposed to air, the plugs will become damaged. After this happens, the virus loses the ability to infect and dies. So while a cold virus may be able to spread from contact with outside surfaces, HIV will not.


6. Can another Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) increase my risk?

Yes! Studies have shown that individuals infected with Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Herpes are nearly three to five times as likely to spread or contract HIV.

An HIV positive individual who becomes sick with another STI will develop an increased presence of HIV in their body. When this happens, bodily fluids will be highly infectious.

Conversely, STIs that cause sores – such as Syphilis and Herpes -- may act as a gateway to the bloodstream and increase the risk of contracting HIV.


7. What are common signs and symptoms of HIV?

Approximately half of all infected persons will show no signs or symptoms upon acquiring the virus. Others may become sick with a flu-like illness that will show up 1—3 weeks after infection, no later. This occurs around the time of seroconversion when your immune system is forming antibodies in response to the virus in your blood. In medical terms, it is known as acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). The term "primary HIV infection" refers to the first stage of viral infection, in which symptoms of ARS may manifest. Common symptoms of ARS include fever, nausea, fatigue, mouth sores, headache, rash, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats and diarrhea. After a week or two of ARS, the body will return to normal.

Years later, however, the flu-like symptoms may re-appear and last for prolonged periods of time. They can also be accompanied by unusual skin disorders, hair loss, rare oral conditions, and increased susceptibility to minor infections.
It is impossible to determine whether or not you are infected until you are tested.

We recommend all sexually active people make HIV/STI testing a routine habit and part of their yearly check-up.


8. How does an HIV test work?

The best and most reliable test is an HIV antibody test known as an ELISA or “EIA”, which is shorthand for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and is generally referred to as an antibody test. This test looks for antibodies created by your immune system in response to the virus. An ELISA test can be performed via the following methods:

Blood draw This test can be done through a physician or STI clinic with the result returning in 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on location and specific times given by the agency.

Oral swab This test is done by manually swabbing the cheek/gums and collecting a sample of saliva and cells. This test can be done through a physician or STI clinic with the result returning in 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on location and times given by the agency.

Oraquick Rapid Test This test is done either by manually swabbing the gums or by a quick blood draw via a needle-prick. Results are available within 20 minutes.

Home Access Test kit These tests can be purchased at most pharmacies and drug stores. After carefully reading the instructions, a sample of blood is collected and sent off to a laboratory for testing. To obtain the result, you must call in and give the lab the serial ID number that came with the test.

If you need information on testing sites in your local and regional area, you can go to National HIV and STD Testing Resources and fill in your Zip Code and the site will give you a list of sites and medical centers offering free, confidential and rapid testing. (for US)


9. What happens if an ELISA is “reactive” ?

If your first antibody test returns with a “reactive” result, another test will be done to confirm your result. In a few rare cases, ELISA tests have picked up antibodies to viruses other than HIV. This is due to the fact that today’s tests are very sensitive.

A “reactive” ELISA will be re-screened by another test called a Western Blot (WB). The WB test looks specifically for HIV antibodies. If they are not found, you will be declared “negative”. If the WB has indeed identified HIV antibodies, you will be declared “positive” and given counseling and other medical resources.

[LoneEagle]

10. How long should I wait to test and what is the 'window period' ?

We know approximately how long it may take a person to produce antibodies to HIV based on years of data, research and advancements in testing.

A person who has contracted HIV may show up positive as early as two weeks after the time they were infected. According to page 11 of the Module 6 Training Manual from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of those who contract HIV will show up positive between 4—6 weeks after infection.

To obtain a reliable test result, it is recommended that you wait at least six weeks after your last exposure. A tiny number of people may not test positive for three months. These are generally people with pre-existing immune disorders such as chemotherapy patients or recent organ transplant recipients who must take immune system-suppressing drugs. For this reason, many agencies will suggest a uniform three month test to cover everyone.

Testing beyond three months is completely unnecessary.

Here is a chart with approximate accuracy of HIV antibody testing:

Time______________ Accuracy

2 weeks…………………………50%

3 weeks…………………………75%

4 weeks…………………………95%

6 weeks…………………………99%

3 months…………………….100%


11. Why do some places say to wait 3 months, 6 months, etc. to test?
Science (even medical science) is not perfect, and cannot account for every situation a person may have going on with their bodies. For this reason, not everyone will have enough antibodies to test at the same time. Those with weak immune systems can take longer to develop HIV antibodies.

Many resources lump everyone together to give one recommendation (for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this is 3 months). Some places say even longer, often because it's just what they always said. Others may say it as a scare tactic. Overall though, 6 months is far more than anyone needs to wait. is it theoretically possible someone might not test accurately until after 3 months? Of course. Again... medical science isn't perfect. However, a person's body would probably have to be pretty messed up for that to be the case.

Ultimately, a person can only educate themselves by using resources like infectious disease medical professionals, state HIV hotlines, and local AIDS service prevention and education organizations to gather information and make the decisions that work for them. There are websites where questions can be asked and answered about HIV transmission, and that is the purpose of those sites. It's not the purpose of this one. This is a site for people affected by HIV to congregate and find support.

Please respect the purpose of this site, and those living with HIV who wish to find support here by not abusing this forum.


12. Will taking antibiotics or other medicines effect my test results?

No.


13. Is an HIV positive diagnosis a “death sentence”?


No. Counseling and medicine are available to those who want to live their lives to the fullest extent possible. It is important for HIV positive individuals to keep in regular contact with their physicians and HIV Specialists in order to obtain information on the most current and effective treatment methods.

People often live long, fulfilling, and healthy lives even after receiving an HIV diagnosis, and it's all a matter of whether you take charge of your health care.


14. Can an HIV positive person ‘catch’ the virus again ?

Yes. Like all viruses, HIV comes in different strains. Some are more benign while others may be more fatal.

Health officials and Scientists are studying the various strains of HIV to determine the effectiveness of anti-viral medication on all of them.

This is why it is important for HIV positive individuals to exercise extreme caution, even when engaging in sexual intercourse or needle-sharing with other HIV positive people.

A combination of two strains of the virus may render anti-viral drugs useless, leaving an individual vulnerable to developing AIDS.


15. What can I do to prevent myself from becoming infected with HIV?

When it comes to sex, abstinence is the only 100 percent guarantee to prevent infection.

After abstinence is monogamy – sexual activity between two people only. A healthy monogamous relationship starts after both people take an HIV test 6 weeks or more after they have been with any other sexual partners. While in theory this sets up a perfectly safe environment, both partners are not always honest and monogamous, and so safety issues can occur. If you are with a single partner and question their monogamy, your safest bet is to use latex (or polyurethane for those allergic to latex) condoms when having sex.

If you are sexually active with more than one person, always use protective measures and test regularly.

********* FOR US******************
If you have a habit of drug abuse, refrain from sharing needles and other equipment. Some places sell new syringes over the counter in pharmacies, or may have needle exchange programs. Call 411 and ask for your state's HIV hotline for more info.


16. How can I practice safer sex?

To begin with, avoid using condoms made of lamb skin. HIV viral cells can pass through a lamb skin condom.

Always use a latex condom. For those allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms work fine as well, though they are harder to find and generally a little more expensive than latex. For women, or use during anal sex, a Female Condom can be considered as well. This is inserted into the vagina according to its instructions, or into the anus using the partner's erect penis or a dildo. The female condom is also polyurethane and can be used with either water or oil based lubricants, though the HIV prevention effectiveness of the female condom is lower than latex and polyurethane male condoms.

Always use water-based lubricants with latex condoms! Oil-based lubricants have been found to tear latex condoms during intercourse. Polyurethane condoms can be used with either water or oil based lubricants.

Never “double-bag” with condoms! In other words, do not use more than one condom during sexual intercourse. The friction during sexual activity may cause both condoms to rupture and expose you to bodily fluids. This goes the same for male and female condoms... never use both... choose one or the other. If it's a toss up, go with the male condom, as they have a higher safety rate.

To better enjoy oral sex while using protection, generously rub some water-based lubrication over the genital area before applying the condom. This can have the effect of "moisture" on the genitals without the mouth actually making contact with potentially-infectious fluids.

Barring no large and fresh opened sores, hand-to-genital mutual stimulation is also considered a safe practice.

Avoid sharing sex toys (dildos, vibrators, and BDSM equipment that may contain bodily fluids).


17. Pregnancy and HIV

Having HIV when pregnant does not guarantee your child will be born with HIV. In fact, with proper care and delivery of the child, the chance of infection from mother to child during delivery falls to only a couple of percent points. Infection from mother to child in the womb is very rare.

If you become pregnant, it is strongly advised that you test for HIV, because special steps need to be taken to assure your child will be HIV negative (regular health care, regimen of HIV meds, special Caesarian birth) and the doctor needs to know to make these preparations. NOTE: During pregnancy it is not uncommon to have one or more inconclusive or "false positive" HIV test results. This is normal and a result of the changes that occur to the body during pregnancy. Doctors will do follow up testing to assure this is the case.

After childbirth, doctors will run tests on the child every few months, usually up until about 18 months to assure the child is HIV negative. It can't be determined upon birth, because a child is born with its mothers antibodies, and does not lose them and start developing its own for several months, so a child would technically test positive for antibodies upon birth, but not necessarily be positive.

After a child is born, the only major precaution that needs to be taken is with regard to breast feeding. Breast milk in HIV infected women contains some HIV, and because of the fragile lining of a baby's stomach, transmission is possible through breastfeeding. If possible, formula feeding is recommended for HIV positive mothers. If this is not at all possible, then breastfeeding should be weined by about 6 months to reduce chances of infection, and during that time breast pumping may be a better option so that there is no risk of blood contact in case the nipple is dry or cracked and bleeding.

NOTE: Breast milk would not be a risk for adult infection unless it came directly into contact with the bloodstream (via open bleeding cuts or injection) or sexual membranes of an adult. No other way, including accidental ingestion, is a risk for transmission in adults.

[LoneEagle]

18. Kissing and HIV. What if there's blood in the saliva?

This really doesn't change anything since enzymes in saliva significantly impair HIV's ability to transmit. There would need to be a lot more blood in your partner's mouth for there to be any concern at all, and even then you would need to have significant active bleeding in your own mouth to have potential risk. The kind of bleeding that would make people either not kiss at all, or stop kissing before any real risk could occur, since people don't generally kiss with blood gushing out of their mouths.

That is all in addition to the person's HIV status being a factor (remember most people do not have HIV) so there is no risk in kissing, even if you feel there may have been some blood present.


...a special "Thank You" to forum member Hopeful82(From HealingWell), who originally contributed much of this information, in addition to what I added.

Additional information was provided by:

The California Department of Health and Human Safety, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Los Angeles County Department of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the United Nations -- World Health Organisation (WHO)

[LoneEagle]

Thank you Profane.

The reason why I post this thread because I was one of the Worry and Anxiety Group of People.

[Willie]

Bro,

Thanks and very informative. Just want to add that there should be a distinction between insertive and receptive oral sex wrt para 4. Usually, a higher risk is accorded to the receptive rather than insertive partner. Just my 2 cents. A few other sites that you can turn to are:

The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource

AIDSmeds.com

[11_Frog]

What about performing cunnilingus, eating pussy till her fluid comes, will I get contracted with HIV ?

This question has been in my mind for quite a while, pls advise, thanks.

[ptgary]

not unless your mouth is bleeding lor

[Nuglut]

Thanks for posting. Always a good review.

I'm also glad that the FAQ addressed one of the biggest misconceptions with respect to HIV and condoms:

Never “double-bag” with condoms! In other words, do not use more than one condom during sexual intercourse. The friction during sexual activity may cause both condoms to rupture and expose you to bodily fluids. This goes the same for male and female condoms... never use both... choose one or the other. If it's a toss up, go with the male condom, as they have a higher safety rate.

I always shudder a little when I see bros posting to use two condoms, thinking that two is twice as safe as one. I hope they now realize that doing so puts you at far greater risk due to the risk of both condoms rupturing.

Bro Nuglut.

[peanut123]

Originally Posted by 11_Frog

What about performing cunnilingus, eating pussy till her fluid comes, will I get contracted with HIV ?

This question has been in my mind for quite a while, pls advise, thanks.

Generally, the giver of unprotected oral sex ( ie, the woman giving a blowjob or the male giving cunninglingus ) is at GREATER risk then the receiver. The reason is that the sex fluids end up in the giver's mouth, and thus can get into any ulcer, cut, sores, etc, in his/her mouth.

So my advice is, don't give unprotected cunninglingus unless you know her sexual history. If she's your faithful wife/girlfriend, then go ahead. It does wonders to her pleasure. Otherwise, don't.