hiv

HIV
An introduction to HIV and how you can
protect yourself against infection

What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus attacks the
body's own defences - the immune system - and so makes the body
more vulnerable to disease. A person may have HIV but have no
symptoms and may feel perfectly well. However, the virus will attack
the immune system over a period of time.

Is it the same as Aids?
Aids - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - only happens when HIV
has damaged the immune system to the extent that it is unable to fight off
serious infections, including cancers, TB and other serious illnesses.
This is unlikely to happen if the person is being treated at a specialist clinic.

Treatment involves regular monitoring and may include the use of
anti-retroviral drugs which are very effective in treating HIV - a combination
of drugs are used together. These drugs are available here on the NHS
but people in poorer countries may not have access to them. A person on
treatment is unlikely to develop Aids and can expect a 'normal' life expectancy.

However, there is no cure for HIV or Aids, and no short term prospect
of either a cure or a vaccine that would prevent HIV.

How infectious is HIV?
HIV is not actually very infectious - unlike the flu virus, for example, it
cannot be caught or passed on through casual social contact.
HIV is acquired in three main ways:

sexual intercourse (insertion of the penis into the vagina or anus)
without using a condom. This is by far the most common way that HIV
is transmitted.
sharing drug-injecting needles.
from mother to baby during birth or by breast feeding.

In the past some people got HIV from blood transfusions or organ
transplants, but now all blood and organ donations in the UK are screened
to prevent this happening.

HIV can only be passed on in the following body fluids: blood, seminal
fluid, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and only if one of these body fluids gets
into someone else's bloodstream. Other body fluids such as saliva, sweat
or urine cannot contain enough virus to infect another person.

Safer sex... need to know more?
Whether you are gay, straight or bi, it's not who are are but what you do
that matters. The best way to avoid HIV - and other sexually transmitted
infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea - is by always using safer sex.
Click here for info about safer sex.

For more information...
about any aspect of HIV, contact one of these helplines:

Sexual Health & National AIDS Helpline 0800 567 123 - a 24 hour service
offering free confidential advice on all aspects of HIV and sexual health.
THT Direct 0845 122 1200 - Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK's biggest
HIV and AIDS charity and will give information, advice and support over
the phone, if you have any questions or concerns about HIV.
Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, weekends 12 noon-6pm.