| There's no vaccine to prevent HIV infection and no cure for AIDS. But it's possible to protect yourself and others from infection. That means educating yourself about HIV and avoiding any behavior that allows HIV-infected fluids — blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk — into your body. |
| If you're HIV-negative |
The following measures can help keep you from being infected with HIV:
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Educate yourself and others. Make sure you understand what HIV is and how the virus is transmitted. Just as important, teach your children
about HIV. |
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Know the HIV status of any sexual partner. Don't engage in unprotected
sex unless you're absolutely certain your partner isn't infected with
HIV. |
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Use a new latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex.
If you don't know the HIV status of your partner, use a new latex
condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex. If you're allergic
to latex, use a plastic (polyurethane) condom. Avoid lambskin condoms
— they do not protect you from HIV. If you don't have a male
condom, use a female condom. Use only water-based lubricants, not
petroleum jelly, cold cream or oils. Oil-based lubricants can weaken
condoms and cause them to break. During oral sex use a condom,dental
dam — a piece of medical-grade latex —or plastic wrap.
Remember that although condoms can reduce your risk of contracting
HIV, they don't eliminate the risk entirely. Condoms can break or
develop small tears, and they may not always be used properly. |
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Consider male circumcision. A large study in 2006 by the National
Institutes of Health showed that medically performed circumcision
significantly reduced a man's risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual
intercourse. The study, conducted in Kenya, showed a 53 percent reduction
of HIV infection in circumcised HIV-negative men compared with uncircumcised
men in the study. The outcome was heralded by the NIH as good news
not only because it reduced the number of HIV-infected men, but also
because it could lead to fewer infections among women in areas of
the world where HIV is spread primarily through heterosexual intercourse. |
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Use a clean needle. If you use a needle to inject drugs, make sure
it's sterile, and don't share it. Take advantage of needle exchange
programs in your community and consider seeking help for your drug
use. |
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Be cautious about blood products in certain countries. Although
the blood supply in the United States is now well screened, this isn't
always the case in other countries. If an emergency requires that
you receive blood or blood products in another country, get tested
for HIV as soon as you return home. |
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Get regular screening tests. If you are a woman, have a yearly Pap
test. Men and women who engage in anal sex should also have regular
tests for anal cancer. |
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Don't
become complacent. Because potent antiretroviral medications have
reduced the number of AIDS deaths in the United States, you may think
that HIV infection is no longer a problem. But HIV/AIDS is still a
terminal illness for which there is no vaccine and no cure. Right
now, the only way to stay healthy is to protect yourself and others
from infection. |
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| If you're HIV-positive |
| If you've received a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, the following guidelines can
help protect others: |
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Follow safe sex practices. The only foolproof way to protect others
from infection is to avoid practices that expose them to blood, semen
or vaginal secretions. Barring that, carefully follow guidelines for
safe sex, including using a new latex condom every time you have vaginal
or anal sex and using a dental dam, condom or piece of plastic wrap
during oral sex. If you use sexual devices, don't share them. It's
also important to avoid having unprotected sex with other HIV-positive
people because of the risk of acquiring or passing on a drug-resistant
strain of the virus. |
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Tell your sexual partner(s) you have HIV. It's important to tell
anyone with whom you've had sex that you're HIV-positive. Your partners
need to be tested and to receive medical care if they have the virus.
They also need to know their HIV status so that they don't infect
others. |
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If your partner is pregnant, tell her you have HIV. Even if you're
not the father, be sure to tell any pregnant woman with whom you've
had sex that you're HIV-positive. She needs to receive treatment to
protect her own health and that of her baby. |
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Tell others who need to know. Although only you can decide whether
to tell friends and family about your illness, you do need to inform
your health care providers of your HIV status. This is not just to
protect them, but also to ensure that you get the best possible medical
care. |
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Don't share needles or syringes. If you use intravenous drugs, never
share your needles and syringes. |
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Don't donate blood or organs. The virus will spread to other people. |
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Don't share razor blades or toothbrushes. These items may carry
traces of HIV-infected blood. |
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If you're pregnant, get medical care right away. If you're HIV-positive,
you may pass the infection to your baby. But if you receive treatment
during pregnancy, you can cut your baby's risk by as much as two-thirds. |
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