AIDS
AIDS, that is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a disease of human immune system which causes its distruction. This is a sexually transmitted disease, however it damages not only sexual health.
The symptoms of this disease were for the first time registred in 1978. Several patients in the USA and Sweeden (homosexual men), and also some people in Tanzania and Haiti (heterosexual men and women) had these symptoms. These people had an unprecidented type of pneymonia and rare skin growths. Doctors noted that the patients had hard depression of a type of cells in the blood which provides fighting viruses. In 1983 French and US researchers discovered the human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus that was the cause of AIDS. Today it is known that motherland of this virus is West Africa. Its nature and structure has been defined. The scientists have already investigated all the possible ways of the virus carry-over. But they have not managed to invent a medicine for HIV treatment, though. The statistic data of HIVs expansion is horrifying: there are more than 40 million people infected with HIV in the world today.
Those infected with HIV are often called HIV-positive. In course of time the immune system gets weaker and weaker, and a HIV infected is likely to suffer from some infections or various types of cancer. When these are rather severe the person is considered to have AIDS.
How can you be infected?
HIV virus can be passed on through
Unprotected (without condom) intercourse (70-80 per cent)
Co-use of used syringes, needles, and other injection instruments (5-10 per cent)
Use of unsterile instruments for tattooing and pierceing
Co-use of brush-tooth and shaving things with visible traces of blood
Transfusion of infected blood (5-10 per cent)
Co-use of sex toys
HIV can be passed on through blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. At the same time there is no possibilily to be infected through other organisms discharges such as spittle, sweat, tears, urine. This happens because there should be some minimal concentration of the virus for infection. For example, the necessary amount of virus is contained in a drop of blood, while the volume of spittle which contains the same amount of virus is 4 litres.
How can I prevent being infected with HIV?
It is perfectly clear that you can prevent HIV transmission by avoiding the situations when the virus is likely to pass on you. It means that you should always use your own syringe for injections, you should not share things you use for personal hygiene and you must make sure that the salon, where you have piercing or tattoo done cares about hygiene properly.
What to sex, you must be aware of the fact that there are some factors that increase the risk of being infected through unprotected intercourse. These are:
Sexually transmitted diseases which are also called gates for virus, since they cause ulcers and inflammations in genitals
Cervical erosion is equally dangerous to both men and women. It is perilous for women because it is gates for virus. The danger for man consists in the fact that cervical erosion of an infected woman can provoke peeling of genitals infected cells. So any diseases that affect sexual health are rather dangeous, because they increase the possibility to become HIV infected.
The risk to be infected through anal sex is much higher than through a vaginal one, because some injures of rectum are likely to occur.
It means that it is necessary to observe some rules of personal safety. You should
Limit the number of your sexual partners. Try to avoid sex if you are not sure your partner's health is in order.
Use rubber condoms rather than those made of matural materials, since viruses can pass through their pores. Use condoms together with a cream or a gel containing sperm-killing nonyxinol-9 till the duration of your relations reaches at least 3 months. Than you should use condoms untill you pass the test and receive its results. Usually the test shows that you are HIV- positive within three months after infection. Though condom is not completely reliable, it is one of the most effective and available means of HIV and other sexualy transmitted infections precaution.
Oral sex is relatively safe if there is no ejaculation into the mouth and if there are no wounds on gums and tongue. To be on the safe side, it is advisable to use condom or a special latex film while having oral sex.
You must know that the condoms deterioration while having anal sex is much more dangerous than while having an oral one. Make sure you can put on condom correctly. Condom is the best mean for AIDS precaution, but sometimes it can be deteriorated or slide down. It is not a bad idea to stop the intercourse for a while and check wheter there is everything OK with the condom. Put some lubricant on the penis and inside the anus before the intercourse. A lubricant decreases the risk of injuring and the condoms deterioration.
Do not share your sex toys with anyone ! If you are a lesbian than keep in mind that every girl must have her own sex toy! If there is not such a possibility, than sex toys must be used together with condoms in order to prevent body fluids from getting into anothers persons organism. One more tip: do not forget to wash your sex toys after each use!
Actually following all the mentioned generally guarantees good sexual health.
It is your choice whether to protect yourself from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases or not. But even if you do not care about your sexual health you must know that there are many other people around you who want to be happy and live a long life. It means that if you are infected, it is not only your problem, since you can infect someone else. AIDS is merciless but we can fight it. And we will.
