HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes chronic infections that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if not treated. There are so many myths about how it is transmitted, so don't assume that what you've heard is correct. Before injecting yourself with drugs or having sex, find out, even if you think it is safe or that certain acts cannot be described as sexual properly.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Understanding HIV Transmission
Step 1. You must first know which body secretions contain HIV
A person affected by it cannot infect anyone by sneezing or shaking their hand, as would happen with a normal cold. For an uninfected person to become infected, they must come into contact with one of the following body fluids:
- Blood.
- Semen and pre-seminal fluid.
- Rectal fluids, that is, coming from the anus.
- Vaginal secretions.
- Breast milk.
Step 2. Protect areas vulnerable to HIV infection
The surest way to avoid this is to prevent any contact with the secretions listed above. However, the following areas of the body are much more likely to be infected if they come into contact with infected fluids:
- Rectum.
- Vagina.
- Penis.
- Mouth.
- Areas with cuts and wounds, especially if they bleed.
Step 3. Get yourself and the people you have sex with tested for HIV
Many people with HIV are not even aware that they have been infected. A hospital test is the only way to know for sure if someone has the virus. If the result is negative, you do not have the virus, while, if it is positive, you have been infected.
- Find out about the facilities where you can take this test for free.
- You can usually get results within an hour, but this mode is not 100% safe. For more accurate results, ask for the sample to be sent to the lab, or perform a second test with a different member of staff.
- Even if you test negative for HIV, you may still have a recent infection. For six months, take precautions assuming you have HIV, then return for a second exam.
Step 4. Practice safe interactions
The following activities do not present significant risks of contracting HIV:
- Hugging, shaking hands, or touching a person who tested positive.
- Sharing a bathroom or toilet with someone who tested positive.
- Kissing someone who tested positive, unless they have cuts or sores in their mouth. However, if the blood is not visible, the risk is extremely low.
- A person who does not have HIV cannot "create" the virus and transmit it through sex or other means. However, it is not possible to know with absolute certainty whether a person is negative.
Part 2 of 4: Practicing Safe Sex
Step 1. Have sex with a few trusted partners
The fewer people you have sex, the less likely it is that one of them will be infected with HIV. The lowest risk occurs in a couple relationship where members only have sex with each other. Even then, you still have to undergo an examination and follow safe sex practices. There is always the possibility that one is unfaithful.
Step 2. Choose low-risk sex types
These activities carry with them almost no risk of HIV infection, even if one of the people involved were affected:
- Erotic massage.
- Male masturbation, without sharing bodily fluids.
- Using sex toys on the other person, but not sharing them. For added safety, put a condom on the toy for each use, and wash it thoroughly afterwards.
- Penetration of the vagina or anus with a finger. If your finger has a cut or a scratch, it is possible for infection to occur. Increase the degree of safety with medical gloves and a water-based lubricant.
Step 3. Practice oral sex safely
If you give oral sex to a man who tested positive, the risk of infection is high. It is rare, but not impossible, for transmission to occur from the mouth to the penis or vagina instead, or by having oral sex on a woman. Take the following precautions to minimize the risk and avoid other diseases:
- If the penis is involved in the act, use a condom. Those of latex are the most effective, closely followed by those of polyurethane. Don't use lambskin ones. If you need to improve the taste, buy the flavored ones.
- If the vagina or anal opening is involved, use a dental dam. You do not have it? Cut an unlubricated condom or use a sheet of natural latex.
- Don't let a person ejaculate in your mouth.
- During your period, try to avoid oral sex.
- Before or after oral sex, don't floss or brush your teeth, as this may cause bleeding.
Step 4. Protect yourself during vaginal sex
Vaginal penetration with the penis causes a high risk of transmission for both parties, especially the woman. Reduce the odds by using a classic or female condom, but not both. Always prefer water-based lubricated ones to limit the risk of condom breakage.
- The outermost ring of the female condom must always remain around the penis and outside the vagina.
- Other forms of contraception do not protect against HIV. Getting the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation is not a protective method.
- It is possible, but not certain, that people who have undergone a sex reassignment surgery from male to female run the risk of contracting the virus more easily.
Step 5. Be very careful when engaging in anal sex
Rectal tissue is quite sensitive to lacerations and damage during sexual intercourse. Consequently, the risk of transmission is high for humans, and even more so for the person who has been penetrated. Consider other forms of sexual activity outlined above. If you have anal sex, use a latex condom and lots of water-based lubricant.
Female condoms are likely to be effective during anal sex, but this has not been thoroughly researched. Some organizations recommend removing the inner ring, while others don't
Step 6. Store and use a condom properly
Review how to put on and take off a condom or use a female condom. Above all, remember to pinch the tip before putting on a male condom, and grasp it firmly by the base when you take it off. Before having sex, make sure the condom has been treated properly:
- Never use an oil-based lubricant with latex or polyisoprene condoms, as it can break them.
- Use condoms before the expiration date.
- Store the condom at room temperature, not in your wallet or some other place where it can be damaged.
- Use a tight-fitting but easy-to-wear condom.
- Do not stretch the condom to see if it has tears.
Step 7. Avoid high-risk practices
Whatever type of sex you have, certain practices can increase the risk of transmission. Keep these factors in mind:
- Rough sex increases the chances of a condom breaking.
- Avoid spermicides containing N-9 (nonoxynol-9). It can irritate the vagina and increase the chances of the condom breaking.
- Do not do a vaginal or anal douche before having sex. This can irritate the area or remove bacteria that help fight the infection. If you need to clean it, make a mild bidet with a mild soap instead.
Step 8. Avoid alcohol and drugs before having sex
Substances that alter your mental state increase your chances of making bad decisions, such as having unprotected sex. Try to have sex only when you are sober, or be prepared in advance to protect yourself.
Part 3 of 4: Avoiding Contagion from Non-Sexual Sources
Step 1. Use clean needles and tools
Before injecting any substance, make sure that the used needle has been stored in a clean container, and that it has not been used by anyone else. Never share cotton balls, containers of water or any other equipment related to drug use with another person who uses them. Sterile needles are available in pharmacies; in some countries, there are also free needle exchange programs.
Typically, you don't have to explain why you are buying or exchanging a needle
Step 2. Do not get tattoos or piercings in suspicious structures
These practices must be performed by qualified professionals, in a well-maintained professional environment. All needles should be brand new, and at the start of the appointment, the artist should open the sealed package in front of you. Using contaminated tools is relatively dangerous and can cause HIV transmission.
Step 3. As a last resort, treat the needles with bleach
It is impossible that you can completely disinfect a used needle. There will always be a chance that it will transmit HIV. Only use it in extreme cases, and don't expect it to totally protect you:
- Fill the syringe with clean or bottled tap water. Shake or tap the syringe to stir the water. Wait 30 seconds, then expel all the water.
- Repeat several times, until the blood is no longer visible.
- Fill the syringe with classic bleach. Shake the syringe or tap it, then wait 30 seconds. Spray the bleach and discard it.
- Rinse the syringe with water.
Step 4. Stop taking drugs
Dependence on a substance exposes a person to take more risks. The only sure way to eliminate the chances of getting HIV from injected drugs is to stop using them. Attend a drug addiction meeting in your area to get help and get more information.
Step 5. When using contaminated items, be careful
Whether you suffer from drug addiction or work in the healthcare industry, pay close attention to used syringes. In a hospital, you assume that all secretions are infected. Assume any sharp or broken equipment may be contaminated with contaminated fluids. Wear gloves, a face mask, long-sleeved shirts, and pants. Pick up contaminated items using tweezers or other tools; throw them away in a clear container or bag with a biohazard sign. Disinfect the skin, hands, and surfaces that the infected object or blood has come into contact with.
Part 4 of 4: Drugs and Tests
Step 1. For long-term protection, consider Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
To implement it, you need to take a pill once a day: this can greatly reduce the risk of HIV infection. However, the medicine should only be used by prescription. It is recommended for people who are not infected with the virus, but who regularly expose themselves to HIV-positive sexual partners or objects.
- When on this therapy, go to your doctor every three months to check your HIV-related status and monitor for kidney problems.
- The effects of PrEP on the fetus are not known, but not many studies have been done on it. If you are following this procedure and become pregnant, talk to your doctor.
Step 2. Use Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PPE) immediately after exposure
If you think you have been exposed to HIV, seek immediate medical attention or go to a hospital. By starting to take PPE medications as early as possible, no later than 72 hours after exposure, it is possible that you will fight HIV infection. You need to take the medicine (or, more likely, two or three) daily for 28 days, or as directed by your doctor.
- Since this is not a guaranteed method of protection, you should still have an HIV test after you finish taking your medication, and then repeat it three months later. As long as you do not test negative, explain to the people you have sex with that you may be affected.
- If you expose yourself frequently, instead follow the PrEP procedure consistently by taking a daily pill, as described above.
Step 3. Understand that the treatment is preventative
People who have tested positive on antiretroviral medicines may be able to manage infection levels with significant success. Some of these people think that constant treatment is an important tool to help prevent the spread of infection to partners who have tested negative. However, researchers and HIV prevention experts have differing opinions on the effectiveness of this method. Some studies show that individuals who use treatment as a prevention (TasP) are more likely to neglect other forms of protection, such as condoms. While treatment can certainly reduce the risk of infection, it is not a guarantee. Each person involved should undergo regular tests to measure the risk involved.
Step 4. Understand that an undetectable viral load may be present
Some infected people should have regular testing to determine viral load, or the concentration of virus in secretions. With constant treatment, positive subjects can have a non-quantifiable viral load. It is important to understand that such a person is still infected with HIV and could pass it on to a sexual partner. Although some studies show very promising results on low (or potentially non-existent) infection rates, more research is needed for an accurate risk assessment. Some individuals with a subtle viral load in their blood may still have a higher viral load in semen or other body fluids.
Step 5. Get regular testing
All of the tips listed in this article are risk mitigation techniques. There is no such thing as completely safe sex or drug use. Things can go wrong. Accidents happen. If you engage in behavior that could cause an infection, including safe sex with someone you know is positive, take a test. Repeat this every three months as long as you continue to have this behavior; at its conclusion, add quarterly and then semester exams.
Advice
- Pay attention to your body. Watch for cuts or wounds in your mouth, hands, or genital area and don't let them come into contact with infected fluids.
- If you have unprotected sex, get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections as well. Vaccines are available to protect you from some other diseases, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papilloma virus.
Warnings
- There is no risk-free sex or drug use. The most important thing is to consider all possibilities and choose a risk tolerance threshold that you personally feel comfortable with.
- It is possible to spread HIV or other infections to other partners, even if you act on a risk tolerance threshold that is acceptable to you. You should always discuss safe sex practices and theories with each new partner and establish informed consent prior to sexual engagement or fluid exchanges.
