HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Basic Facts

Wyoming has over 170 persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Almost 20% of new cases in WY in 2007 were in their early 20’s.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection.

Transmission

HIV is a fragile virus. It cannot live for very long outside the body. As a result, the virus is not transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss.

HIV is NOT transmitted by:

1. Hugging/Kissing
2. Toilet Seats
3. Drinking Fountains
4. Doorknobs
5. Dishes/Drinking glasses
6. Food
7. Pets

HIV is transmitted in 3 main ways:

1. Having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV;
2. Sharing needles and syringes with someone infected with HIV;
3. Being exposed (fetus or infant) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding.

Risk Factors

You may be at increased risk for infection if you have:

1. injected drugs or steroids, during which needles, syringes, cotton, rinse water and blood were shared with others;
2. had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (that is, sex without using condoms) with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners;
3. exchanged sex for drugs or money;
4. been given a diagnosis of, or been treated for, hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB);
5. received a blood transfusion or blood product during 1978–1985;
6. diagnosed or treated for a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis;
7. had unprotected sex with someone who has any of the risk factors listed above.

Prevention

Your risk of getting HIV or passing it to someone else depends on several things.  Do you know what they are?  You might want to talk to someone who knows about HIV.  You can also do the following:

• Abstain from sex (do not have oral, anal, or vaginal sex) until you are in a relationship with only one person, are having sex with only each other, and each of you knows the other’s HIV status.
• If both you and your partner have HIV, use condoms to prevent other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and possible infection with a different strain of HIV.
• If only one of you has HIV, use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex.

If you have, or plan to have, more than one sex partner, consider the following:

• Get tested for HIV every 6 months.
• If you are a man who has had sex with other men, get tested at least once a year.
• If you are a woman who is planning to get pregnant or who is pregnant, get tested as soon as possible, before you have your baby.
• Talk about HIV and other STDs with each partner before you have sex.
• Learn as much as you can about your partner’s past behavior (sex and drug use), and consider the risks to your health before you have sex.
• Ask your partners if they have recently been tested for HIV; encourage those who have not been tested to do so.
• Use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex.
• If you think you may have been exposed to another STD such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or chlamydia infection, get treatment.  These diseases can increase your risk of getting HIV.
• Even if you think you have low risk for HIV infection, get tested whenever you have a regular medical check up.
• Do not inject illicit drugs (drugs not prescribed by your doctor).  You can get HIV through needles, syringes, and other works if they are contaminated with the blood of someone who has HIV.  Drugs also cloud your mind, which may result in riskier sex.

If you do inject drugs, do the following:

• Use only clean needles, syringes, and other works.
• Never share needles, syringes, or other works.
• Be careful not to expose yourself to another person’s blood.
• Get tested for HIV at least once a year.
• Consider getting counseling and treatment for your drug use.