December 1 - World Aids Day
What are STDs?
STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease (sometimes called Sexually Transmitted Infection). This is an infection which can be caught by having sexual contact with someone who is infected.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. People can become infected with HIV and they can pass it on to other people. A person infected with HIV is infected for life. People infected with HIV can look and feel well for a long time.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A person is said to have AIDS if they are infected with HIV and in addition they have developed one of a number of particularly severe illnesses. There is currently no cure for AIDS and no vaccine to prevent it.
How can people become infected with HIV?
There are a number of ways you can become infected. These include:
- Having sexual intercourse with some who is infected.
- Injecting drugs using a needle or syringe which has already been used by an infected person.
- An infected pregnant woman can pass the virus on to her unborn baby either before or during birth. HIV can also be passed on during breastfeeding.
- Blood transfusions are a possible route of transmission, although most countries now screen the blood supply from HIV, meaning the risk is extremely small.
- Oral sex is a possible risk, although infection from oral sex (blowjobs) on its own seems to be quite rare.
You can't become infected by:
- Sharing a cup or cutlery with someone who is infected.
- Eating food prepared by someone who is infected.
- Touching, hugging, kissing or general contact with an infected person.
- Using the same toilet as someone with HIV.
What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a serious condition in which the body's defences against some illnesses are broken down. This means that people with AIDS can get many different kinds of diseases which a healthy person's body would normally fight off quite easily.
How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?
The length of time between being infected with HIV and being diagnosed with AIDS depends on lots of different things. These days, there are many drugs that can be used to help people with HIV, and most doctors believe that a lot of people can be treated for a long time. Many people do not know exactly when they were infected with HIV, and the length of time between this happening and them being diagnosed with AIDS can be very variable.
So how can i protect myself?
Using condoms during sex will help to protect you. However, some STDs can be transmitted in other ways, such as kissing. You shouldn't have sexual contact with anyone who has visible sores or genital rashes.
What is safe sex?
Safe sex means sexual activities which you can do even if one person is infected with an STD that won't pass it on to the other person. Loads of activities are completely safe. You can kiss, cuddle, massage and rub each other's bodies. Nothing you do on your own can cause you to get an STD - you can't for example infect yourself by masturbation.
What is safer sex?
Safer sexual activities are things that aren't always completely safe, but mean you've taken precautions to reduce the risks. An example of this is using condoms. Using a condom is not absolutely safe as condoms can break, but they are generally very effective if they are used correctly.
