How Not to Get HIV
Are you taking all the necessary steps to prevent HIV? Here's what you need to know to protect yourself.
Medically reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD
When AIDS first appeared, it
was an exceedingly mysterious disease. But over the past 30 years, researchers
have learned a great deal about how it is transmitted — and how it
can be prevented.
Knowledge, though, does not necessarily translate
into action. Each year, more than 56,000 people in the United States still become
infected with HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — and nearly
18,000 Americans die of AIDS annually.
What seems to be driving this pandemic, especially
in the United States, is the fact that many people don’t take steps to prevent
themselves from becoming infected, says Steven Santiago, MD, medical director
of Care Resource, South Florida’s oldest and largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS
organization. “A lot of people who think they are not at risk actually are,” he
HIV Is Transmitted
The most common ways that HIV spreads is when
someone does not use a condom when having sex with an infected person; has
multiple sexual partners; or shares needles, syringes, rinse water, or other
equipment used to prepare illegal drugs. It is also easier to contract if you
have another sexually transmitted disease. “We think that STDs act as a portal
because they cause inflammation, which stimulates the immune system, and they
also cause ulcers, which can make infection easier,” says Dr. Santiago.
In the past, AIDS was transmitted mostly through
blood infusions, but that type of transmission is unlikely now because the
blood supply has been checked for HIV for decades. There have also been scares
about AIDS transmission from sharing a razor or toothbrush with an infected
person, but this actual risk is very low. Still, Santiago notes, “It’s common
sense that there might be a bit of microscopic blood if you share razors or
toothbrushes, so why take the risk?”
to Prevent the Spread of HIV
It's important to be aware of how prevalent the
risk factors for HIV and AIDS are in your community because this offers you
information on how to protect yourself, says Santiago. “HIV is more prevalent
in large cities, where people are transient, as opposed to small towns, where
everyone knows each other," he notes. "There [is] also more likely to
be drug abuse in larger areas." But living in a small town doesn’t
guarantee you protection from HIV; you need to practice safe sex no matter
where you live.
The advent of drug treatment known as antiretroviral
therapy also has helped stem the tide of the epidemic. These
drugs not only help prevent HIV from turning into AIDS but also reduce the
viral load to such an extent that infected people are less likely to pass on
the virus. Nonetheless, they don’t offer 100 percent protection, so the best
practice is still to use a condom.
This applies to you even if you consider yourself
part of a monogamous couple; too often, people often don't know their partner’s
HIV status. People can have HIV even if they have appeared perfectly healthy
for years. The only way to know is for both of you to be tested. And even if
both people in a couple test negative, things can change later — one
person in the couple may think the other is still monogamous when he or she is
the Right Condom
Many people with AIDS
contracted HIV during unprotected sex, which is why condoms are always important.
When it comes to choosing a condom, remember that latex condoms are your best
protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Experts
also recommend that you not use a condom treated with a spermicide. It used to
be thought that this conferred some extra protection, but it’s been found that
Nonoxynol 9, the most common spermicide, does not protect against HIV, as
If you are having protected sex, make sure
lubricants are water-based (oil-based lubricants can damage the condom). Don’t
use lubricants if you are having unprotected anal sex, however: Recent research
suggests that lubricants can irritate anal tissue and actually increase HIV
Practicing safe sex is especially important when
you know or suspect your partner is HIV-positive. Besides wearing a condom
during anal or vaginal sex, use a flavored condom when having oral sex. For
oral sex, some experts also recommend using dental dams, which are thin
rectangular sheets of latex.
Factors to Keep in Mind
One of the greatest successes in the fight against
HIV/AIDS has been the dramatic reduction in the number of HIV-infected babies
born in the United States. This has been attributed to testing guidelines that
help identify and treat infected mothers, which helps them avoid giving HIV to
their unborn children. However, women who are
infected with HIV are still warned not to breastfeed because
of the possibility that the infection may be transmitted.
Avoiding illegal IV drug use is also crucial in
preventing HIV/AIDS. If you do use IV street drugs, however, using only clean needles
may prevent you from contracting HIV/AIDS. Check with your local health
organization or a narcotics treatment center for more information, or visit FriendtoFriend.org.
It’s well-known that sharing needles and syringes
is dangerous, but don't overlook the threat posed by other drugs, such as
marijuana and alcohol. “People too often forget that HIV is primarily spread
through risky behavior, so anything that lowers
your inhibitions will make it more likely that you’ll engage
in unprotected sex,” says Santiago.
“I think that’s even more of a problem than drugs because alcohol is so readily