|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Transmission of HIV into the body
HIV gets transferred from the body of HIV+ person to an uninfected person by
- having unprotected sex ( anal, vaginal or oral sex)
HIV can be passed on in both ways because the virus is present in the sexual fluids and blood of infected people. If infected blood or sexual fluid gets into your blood, then you will become infected.
If a man with HIV has vaginal intercourse without a condom, infected fluid could pass into the woman's blood stream through a tiny cut or sore inside her body. This can be so small that you don't know about it. If a couple have anal intercourse the risk of infection is greater than with vaginal intercourse.
If a woman with HIV has sexual intercourse without a condom, HIV could get into the man's blood through a sore patch on his penis or by getting into the tube which runs down the penis.
If there is any contact with blood during sex, this increases the risk of infection. For example, there may be blood in the vagina if intercourse happens during a woman's period. There can also be bleeding during anal intercourse.
- Transfusion of infected blood or organ transplant.
- Indulging in IVDU ( Intravenous Drug Use ).
HIV can also be passed on by sharing equipment used to inject drugs. Blood can remain on needles and syringes ('works'). If you share, and a person infected with HIV used the works first, the virus can be injected directly into your blood
- visiting a Commercial Sex Worker ( CSW) or having casual sex.
How could I protect myself ?
You could protect yourself by...
- not having premarital sex, not visiting CSWs, not having casual sex, etc.
- not indulging in IVDU.
- Always insisting on tested blood when required.
- when you're at the barber's shop insist that he uses new blades or better still take your own blade.
Which sexual activities could be considered SAFE ?
Lots of activities are completely safe. You can kiss, cuddle, massage and rub each other's bodies. But if you have any cuts or sores on your hands make sure they are covered with plasters (band-aids).
Oral sex (one person kissing, licking or sucking the sexual areas of another person) does carry some risk of infection. If a person sucks the penis of an infected man, for example, infected fluid could get into the mouth. The virus could then get into the blood if you have bleeding gums or tiny sores somewhere in the mouth. The same is true if infected sexual fluids from a woman get into the mouth of her partner. But infection from oral sex alone seems to be very rare.