AIDS is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of HIV disease. HIV disease is caused by HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus.

In the U.S., more than 885,000 cases of AIDS have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(CDC, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Dec.1999). More than 40,000 women and men get HIV each year in the U.S.

HIV is transmitted in blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. HIV is commonly spread by having unprotected sexual intercourse with someone who has the virus; sharing needles or syringes with someone who has the virus; being deeply punctured with a needle or surgical instrument contaminated with the virus; getting HIV-infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions into open wounds or sores. HIV can also be passed from a woman to her fetus during pregnancy or birth. HIV is not transmitted by simple casual contact such as kissing, sharing water glasses or hugging.

The risk of transmitting HIV by a screened blood transfusion in the U.S. is practically nonexistent.

No. Needles and syringes for collecting blood are only used once.

HIV breaks down the immune system — our body's shield against disease. HIV causes people to become sick with infections that normally would not affect them.

You can not tell. The CDC estimates that as many as one in three people with HIV do not know they are infected. Testing is the only way to tell.

Some people develop symptoms shortly after being infected. On average, it takes more than 10 years. There are several stages of HIV disease. The first symptom of HIV disease is often swollen lymph glands in the throat, armpit or groin. Other early symptoms include slight fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches and swollen glands. They may only last for a few weeks. Then there are usually no symptoms for many years.

• Thick, whitish coating of the tongue or mouth (thrush) that is caused by a yeast infection and sometimes accompanied by a sore throat
• Severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections
• Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease or severe and frequent infections like herpes zoster
• Periods of extreme and unexplained fatigue that may be combined with headaches, lightheadedness, and/or dizziness
• Rapid loss of more than 10 pounds of weight that is not due to increased physical exercise or dieting
• Bruising more easily than normal
• Long-lasting bouts of diarrhea
• Recurring fevers and/or night sweats
• Swelling or hardening of glands located in the throat, armpit or groin
• Periods of continued, deep, dry coughing
• Increasing shortness of breath
• The appearance of discolored or purplish growths on the skin or inside the mouth
• Unexplained bleeding from growths on the skin, from mucous membranes, or from any opening in the body
• Recurring or unusual skin rashes
• Severe numbness or pain in the hands or feet, the loss of muscle control and reflex, paralysis, or loss of muscular strength
• An altered state of consciousness, personality change or mental deterioration

Here are some common sex behaviors grouped according to relative risk:

VERY LOW RISK — No reported cases due to these behaviors:

• fantasy — cyber — or phone-sex
• using clean sex toys
• masturbation — mutual masturbation
• touching — massage
• erotic massage — body rubbing
• kissing
• oral sex on a man with a condom
• oral sex on a woman with a Glyde® dam or plastic wrap

LOW RISK — Rare reported cases due to these behaviors:

• deep kissing (with blood letting)
• vaginal intercourse with a condom or female condom
• anal intercourse with a condom or female condom
• oral sex (Try not to get semen, vaginal fluids or blood into the mouth or on broken skin.)

HIGH RISK — Millions of reported cases due to these behaviors:

• vaginal intercourse without a condom
• anal intercourse without a condom

She should consult a health care provider who knows about HIV disease. Without treatment, about 25 percent of babies born to women with HIV are also infected. However, the use of anti-viral drugs, cesarean delivery and refraining from breast feeding can reduce the risk of transmission to less than two percent. Nevertheless, children born with HIV often develop AIDS. A pregnant woman with HIV may want to consider whether or not to continue her pregnancy.

A variety of treatments — combinations of medicines called "cocktails" — offer hope. They are often very expensive and are not available to everyone. They only work for some people and may only work for limited periods of time. While there is increasing hope for people with HIV, there is still no cure.

Some people have lived with AIDS for many years. New treatments and increased knowledge may help many more people live with AIDS even longer.

Tests are available from Planned Parenthood health centers and most physicians, hospitals and health clinics. Local, state, and federal health departments offer free testing. Some have anonymous HIV counseling and testing sites. Tests are done with samples of blood, urine or saliva. Some testing sites now offer rapid testing that can provide results in less than an hour.

You can be tested "confidentially" or "anonymously." "Confidential testing" means your result will be put in a permanent medical record under your name. "Anonymous testing" means your name is not used. Some states require clinicians to report the names of those with HIV or AIDS to health officials. You may want counseling before and after testing. If your clinician does not offer it, contact one of the resources mentioned below.

Testing may be especially right for you if you think that you or your sex partner(s) may be infected and:

• You want to slow the progress of the infection by receiving medical treatment.
• You want to become a parent.
• You and your partner know you will have no other partners for a number of years and you want to stop practicing safer sex.

You want to apply for health insurance, the armed forces, or a government agency that requires testing, and you want to know your status before applying.

• Consult a clinician experienced in treating HIV/AIDS.
• Protect your sex partner(s) from HIV by following safer-sex guidelines.
• Inform sex partner(s) who may also be infected.
• Do not share needles or works.
• Get psychological support with a therapist and/or join a support group for people with HIV.
• Get information and social and legal support from an AIDS service organization.
• Do not share your HIV status with people who do not need to know. Only tell people you can count on for support.
• Maintain a strong immune system with regular medical checkups and a healthy lifestyle:
• Eat well.
• Get enough rest and exercise.
• Avoid illegal and recreational drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.
• Learn how to manage stress effectively.
• Consider using anti-viral therapies that may slow the progress of the infection.

Call the toll-free CDC National AIDS Hotline: 1-800-342-AIDS (2437)
Spanish: 1-800-344-7432
TTY: 1-800-243-7889(2437)

• Have each other's consent.
• Never use pressure to get consent.
• Be honest with each other.
• Treat each other as equals.
• Be attentive to each other's pleasure.
• Protect each other against physical and emotional harm.
• Guard against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection.
• Be clear with each other about what you want to do and do not want to do.
• Respect each other's limits.
• Accept responsibility for your actions.

Information provided by www.plannedparenthood.org
© 2004 Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

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