HIV
What is it?
Symptoms & Effects
Screening & Treatment
Protection
More...
What is it?
This is the thing we all hear about. It is a bad disease that you definitely don't want to get. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS, which stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. When someone has AIDS, their body can't fight off diseases and infections because their immune system is not working right.
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Symptoms & Effects
Symptoms of AIDS include flu-like illness and extreme tiredness, unexplained rapid weight loss, persistent fevers, night sweats, diarrhea. There can also be a thick white coating on the tongue or in the throat, bruising more easily than usual and odd bleeding from any body opening. People with HIV can go many years without having any symptoms of AIDS.
HIV is spread through infected blood, saliva, semen (or cum), vaginal fluids, or intravenous injections with needles.
You can get HIV by:
You can't get AIDS from donating blood, shaking hands or simple touching, or from breathing or being near a person who has AIDS.
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Screening & Treatment
The only way to know if you have HIV is through a blood test that you can get through your doctor, a community clinic, the Health Department or Planned Parenthood. These tests are confidential. Yeah, being tested can be a scary experience, but it helps to know if you are HIV positive so you can get treatment and possibly live a longer and healthier life. If you are worried, getting tested can also be a great relief.
There is no known cure for AIDS right now, and the number of cases is increasing.
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Protection
The best way to be 100% sure you don't get AIDS is to not have sex or share needles. If you are sexually active, definitely use condoms and practice safe sex. Check out safer sex and how to get a condom on right for more information.
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More...
Symptoms & Effects
Screening & Treatment
Protection
More...
What is it?
This is the thing we all hear about. It is a bad disease that you definitely don't want to get. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS, which stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. When someone has AIDS, their body can't fight off diseases and infections because their immune system is not working right.
Return to Top
Symptoms & Effects
Symptoms of AIDS include flu-like illness and extreme tiredness, unexplained rapid weight loss, persistent fevers, night sweats, diarrhea. There can also be a thick white coating on the tongue or in the throat, bruising more easily than usual and odd bleeding from any body opening. People with HIV can go many years without having any symptoms of AIDS.
HIV is spread through infected blood, saliva, semen (or cum), vaginal fluids, or intravenous injections with needles.
You can get HIV by:
- Having sex (and this includes oral and anal sex) without a condom with a person who has HIV
- Sharing needles for drugs (including muscle building hormones that some guys use) with someone who has HIV
- Having sex without a condom with someone that shares needles
You can't get AIDS from donating blood, shaking hands or simple touching, or from breathing or being near a person who has AIDS.
Return to Top
Screening & Treatment
The only way to know if you have HIV is through a blood test that you can get through your doctor, a community clinic, the Health Department or Planned Parenthood. These tests are confidential. Yeah, being tested can be a scary experience, but it helps to know if you are HIV positive so you can get treatment and possibly live a longer and healthier life. If you are worried, getting tested can also be a great relief.
There is no known cure for AIDS right now, and the number of cases is increasing.
Return to Top
Protection
The best way to be 100% sure you don't get AIDS is to not have sex or share needles. If you are sexually active, definitely use condoms and practice safe sex. Check out safer sex and how to get a condom on right for more information.
Return to Top
More...