This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between HIV and
AIDS?
AIDS is caused by a virus known as
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus lives in your blood and eventually attacks
your immune system (the part of your body that fights infection). A weakened immune system
makes it difficult for your body to fight otherwise harmless infections. A series of
infections and cancers take advantage of the immune system's inability to fight back. Once
this happens, you are diagnosed with AIDS. It is these infections that can kill you.
A person infected with the virus can feel and look fine for
many years. On average people will start showing symptoms of a weakened immune system
within ten years of getting infected.
What are the ways that I can and cannot
get infected with HIV?
The only ways to get HIV is:
- By having unprotected sex (sex without a latex condom w/ a
water based lubricant) with a person that has the virus
- By sharing needles when shooting drugs, steroids, vitamins,
or other substances with a person that has the virus. This includes sharing needles for
"skin popping", tattooing, piercing and being blood brothers/sisters
- By getting the blood, blood products or body tissues that
have the virus (usually before 1985). Since 1985, all products are tested for HIV, and
infected products are destroyed. As a result, the risk of infection through blood, blood
products and body tissues is very, very low
- By a mother who has the virus: passing it to her baby during
pregnancy, during the birth process or during breast feeding
HIV is not spread through casual contact such as: sneezing,
coughing, shaking hands, hugging, and kissing. It also cannot be passed from toilet seats,
dried blood, hot tubs, swimming pools, eating utensils, telephones, insect bites, or
furniture. You cannot get HIV from donating blood.
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How long do I have to keep testing for HIV
after I think I have been exposed?
It can
take up to six months for the test to be positive after a person has been exposed to HIV.
If you have not had unsafe sex or shared needles in the six months before taking the test,
and your test is negative then you do not have the virus. Some people get tested nine to
twelve months after the last unsafe, just to be sure.
I’ve heard that HIV can “show up” 10 years
after you’ve been exposed. Is this true?
NO.
This is a very common misconception however. The ten-year period that you’ve heard
about is actually the time that it may take a person with HIV (someone who tests positive)
to start to get sick from it, or to become symptomatic. This would more accurately
be described as an incubation period. This time frame is often confused with the window
period, which is the period of time between infection with HIV and when antibodies are
detected on an HIV test. The window period takes, at the most, 6 months,
although most people seroconvert (go from negative to positive) from 3 weeks to 3
months after becoming infected.
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Can I get HIV from oral sex?
YES. Although saliva and the digestive tract
contain enzymes that create a difficult place for HIV to survive,
microscopic abrasions or other infections may allow the virus to gain
entry into the bloodstream.
What are the ways I can protect myself from getting
infected?
Protecting yourself against HIV is
really much easier than protecting yourself against diseases which are spread casually
(such as a cold or strep throat).
Do not share works, including needles, syringes or cotton,
if you use injectable drugs.
The only sure way of avoiding getting HIV from sex is to
abstain from having sex. If you choose to have sex, latex condoms (rubbers) are good
protection against the virus if they don't break or tear. When used correctly, latex
condoms rarely break. Some important steps to follow to lower the chances of a condom
breaking:
- Take your time and do not rush sex
- Use a latex condom during anal, vaginal, and oral sex. Use a
new condom for every act of sex
- Use only water-based lubricants such as K-Y jelly, Prepair,
or Wet. Apply lubricants as needed. Water-based lubricants dry out quickly
- When putting a condom on, pinch the reservoir tip so
that there is no air bubble when you unroll the condom
- Try using the female condom
- Keep condoms stored at room temperature. Do not expose them
to temperature extremes. The latex can weaken
- Do not use condoms that have expired. Condoms have a certain
shelf life as latex breaks down over time
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Is there a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS?
At this point, once you have the virus you will have it forever and
there is no cure. Many treatments are available to help people who have AIDS to live
longer and more comfortably. These medications either prevent certain infections from
occurring, cure the infections that weaken the immune system or decrease the amount of
virus in an infected person's body. Currently, there are clinical trials being conducted
on vaccines around the country, including here in Colorado. Scientists expect that finding
a vaccine or cure will take many more years of research.
Tell me about herpes. How do I know if I have herpes? If my
partner has herpes, do we have to use condoms? Is there a cure?
Genital infections caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) are
among the most prevalent of all STD in the United States. In the family of herpes viruses,
six viruses affect humans: Herpes simplex virus 1 (oral lesions), herpes simplex virus 2
(genital lesions), cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus and human
herpes virus 6. HSV is believed to reside in the nerve ganglion and infected individuals
can go years without symptoms or an outbreak of lesions. First outbreaks occur typically
within two weeks of being infected and tend to be more severe than later outbreaks
(recurrences). Symptoms are typically one or more fluid filled blisters in the genital or
oral area that open into sores. Sores may be painful and accompanied by swollen glands.
Recurrent outbreaks are common. Many people experience itching at the site before an
outbreak.
The only reliable test for herpes is when a person has open
lesions which can be cultured by a care provider. There are studies currently being
conducted on a blood test that would detect the virus when symptoms are not present.
Preliminary reports show that the culture is still the best method to tell whether you
have herpes.
The most likely time someone can pass it to another person
is when is (s)he is experiencing an outbreak. Therefore, it is important to abstain from
sex when symptoms are present. However, recent findings have shown that even when there
are no symptoms, the virus can be spread to sexual partners. So it is strongly encouraged
that condoms be used as much as possible. Studies have shown that the consistent use of
condoms can prevent herpes in the partners of people who are infected.
At this time, there is no cure for herpes. However, there
is a medication available to lessen and shorten the symptoms of a herpes outbreak.
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I noticed something unusual going on in my genital area.
What could it be?
It could be one of many
things. Your best bet is to have it examined by a professional. We would suggest your
primary care provider or a sexually transmitted diseases clinic. If you are experiencing
symptoms like a discharge, burning when you urinate, painful sex, severe abdominal pain,
lesions or sores in the genital area, rashes, itching, or strange odors, please go see a
doctor. Ignoring it will not make it go away and it could be something that can be taken
care of easily.
last modified 1/19/00
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