Conditions
HIV / AIDS
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global pandemic and the fourth biggest killer worldwide. HIV is an incurable sexually transmitted infection that can be passed during unprotected anal, vaginal and also oral sex, via blood, semen, vaginal fluids and even breast milk. It can also be transmitted by sharing dirty needles, which places intravenous drug users at risk. Although gay men who engage in unprotected sex are a high risk group, anyone who fails to practice safe sex risks infection. A blood test (usually taken 1-3 months after the risk of infection has been identified) can detect the presence of the virus, which attacks the body’s immune system and leaves those infected susceptible to life-threatening conditions (AIDS is the latter stages of HIV when the immune system has stopped working). If you contract HIV, then counselling, regular blood tests, and a daily cocktail of drugs, which work to slow the progress of the virus and effectively manage the condition, will unfortunately become a way of life.
To find out more about HIV & AIDS there are numerous support groups:
NHS Choices
BUPA
Patient.co.uk
The Terrence Higgins Trust
Comments and Questions
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Stupid question, but my partners friend has HIV and I was concerned a little about chance of infection, because socially we have been out with the friend in question and conversations tend to involve a lot of "spit talking" as in "say it dont spray it" is there any risk at all of infection this way? Having done some research I couldnt find any indication that this is a risk factor but as always I find it best to get a second opinion.
This is going to sound a bit odd and maybe I'm going to sound paranoid, but I'm concerned. My mum has had sex with a man with Aids/HIV many many many times, she doesn't know I know, anyway, I'm concerned that when I didn't know, I might of touched her blood...somehow, but I'm not sure, I don't want to go to the doctors because in a way I'm afraid of finding out if I do or not. Is it possible to get HIV this way? Even if it's a tiny bit of blood. My neighbours son has HIV/Aids too and when his arm was bleeding he put a tiny bit on my foot - can I get aids that way, too? And is there any symptoms?
You are not odd or paranoid at all, you are just naturally fearful about something you don't have enough information about. Adults who know their partner is hiv positive, know that they have to use condoms when they have sex. Also, if your mother's partner is on medication for hiv then it is likely that his viral load (which is a measure of how much virus is in the body) will have been brought down to an undetectable level by the medication and the possibility of him passing it to others is very very low and using condoms would make it almost guaranteed not to infect their partner or partners. There are many relationships where one partner is positive and the other is not and using protection they can have happy lives together. Whilst HIV may live for a short while outside of the body, HIV transmission has not been reported as a result of contact with spillages or small traces of blood, semen or other bodily fluids. This is partly because HIV dies quite quickly once exposed to the air, and also because spilled fluids would have to get into a person's bloodstream to infect them. For example you would have to have had an open wound on your foot for that to happen. You need to learn more about hiv and I suggest you go on http://www.avert.org/faq1.htm#q22 where many questions about hiv are answered on HIV Transmission Frequently Asked Questions. It is highly unlikely that you have contracted hiv but to put your mind at rest go to a testing clinic and ask for a test. I don't know your age or whether you live in the UK, but if you are a very young person go to your doctor and explain your fears and ask for a test. Doctors keep what you say confidential. Also, hiv is transmitted sexually and by sharing needles but hepatitis which is a serious illness can be picked up from sharing toothbrushes, razors and even tatoo needles and is easier to catch than hiv. Don't worry yourself, the possibility of you catching it by the ways you fear is almost zero but educate yourself about sexually contracted diseases, learn how they pass from one person to another. Basically, if people use condoms for sex and don't share needles they will never catch hiv. There are many good websites where you can get information, e.g. i-base, NAM, and avert. Finally, if it possible try to speak to your mother and tell her you want to learn more about hiv but go and do a bit of research first and get a few facts as it will make it clearer if she does talk to you about it. Symptoms wise, yes there are early symptoms which can be anything from a mild flu, symptoms that look like a glandular fever type illness or even no symptoms at all. But don't let your imagination run away with you just learn and go and get yourself checked out to take all these fears off your shoulders ok. All the best.
I am Worried that i might have caught HIV/Aids after having sex with a guy (unprotected). I haven't got any of the symptoms and it has been 10 months since then and i am just worried i did it with the same person 5 times 5 months ago but not all at the same time. I am really worried
You can go to any GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) Clinic at any NHS hospital in the United Kingdom and ask for a full sexual health screeing. HIV is a lenti virus which means 'the slow virus' you may have no symptoms for a few years. Getting checked will put your mind at ease and eiminate this unecessary worrying. Also, always use protection when having intercourse and if you are having a long term relationship then both get checked before you have unprotected sex and if you do not have other partners then you will never catch hiv or any other sexually transmitted disease.
Hiv testing has evolved incredibly, as has treatment, HIV is no longer a death sentence- it is however a very serious chronic diesease that means meds for the rest of your life every day. Testing in his highly accurate, the HIV DUO, is licenses to be used from 28 days were it is deemed 99.8% accurate. The window period is 3 months, if you test at negative at 3 months or after then you really do not have HIV to worry about. Over the pond in Australia they reckon an HIV DUO is definitive at 6 weeks- make of that what you want. I believe France also operate the same window period. (all nhs G.U.M.S now use HIV DUO *4th gen tests) You can also get a HIV INSTI- This takes about 1 minute to do. Once all the solution has been added you have your results in literally 10 seconds. This test is very accurate also. Finally, the prevelance of HIV in the hetro community is very low, try not to worry. Most of these infections will occur in major citys, alot in bisexual couples, i.e husband having sex with men gives to wife. I read somewhere there was 700 and something hetro infections in the UK in 2009, now divide that between the population - 65.000,000.. thats 0.00000107... less than 1 in a million, you could go on to at least divide this by two- north south divide and all that, then the majority of infections occur in subsuharan or blacks unfortuneatley- so if you are white its even slimmer. Then the chances of catching HIV female to male is 1 in every 2000 exposures. In a nutshell, you'd either be EXTREMLEY unlucky to get HIV from a single exposure in the UK. Alot of infections occur through repeated exposures when people are not aware they have it. I do think that HIV does need to be publicised again in the UK. It should be a diesase we try to irradicate completely. Or at least try. If you think you have put yourself at risk, get a test, then you know!
Just wondering to put my mind at ease, had unproected sex and oral sex with a girl. Already had a chlamydia and Gonorrhea test wtich came back negative. Whats the chances of Catching HIV
Why didn't you also have an hiv test? Its a straightforward blood test. Your test records at GUM Clinics are confidential, only you can give permission for even your GP to have them. Go back and ask for a full sexual health screeing, you don't even need to give a reason and its free. You can also ask them for fre condoms. Having unprotected sex is always a risk, my advice to you is always carry condoms with you and if you don't feel comfortable having oral sex then don't. You are responsible for your own sexual health. Stay safe.
After my last day of sexual activity how many days after is the perfect time to check up for sexual transmitted infections/diseases?
If you use protection then you will never catch STD's. However, if you have had regular unprotected sex then I would say every three months. Go to a GUM Clinic at any NHS hospital and ask for a full sexual health screeing. Its just like going to the dentist regularly, its no big deal. But your health is a big deal, look after it.
I have just recently had a full sti test including testing for hiv and all my results were fine and came back negative. Im still paranoid about catching anything though, this may sound stupid but its been bugging me, I was at my local sexual health clinic the other day to discuss contraception, and about 1 hour afterwards when I left the clinic I managed to cut my hand which led to a small open wound. I was just wondering could I have got anything on my hands (such as hiv virus/ or dirt or any germs) before hand from the sexual health clinic from causual contact from door handles, chairs? And could these 'germs' get into my cut and cause a infection? Basically could any germs from already on my hand get into my cut? I am just worrying because after I left the clinic I didnt wash my hands I only used hand sanitizer gel to clean my hands. (I used this hand sanitizer before the cut so surely that would of killed off any germs I could of picked up from causual contact?) The questions im asking may sound stupid but any advice to lay my mind at rest would be great! =)
You need to educate yourself about hiv. Go on line and look it up. No of course you can't catch it from door handles, it only lives for about 45 seconds outside the body. However, it can survive inside syringes as it is trapped from the air. Your clinic should also have told you that in order to be absolutely sure you do not have hiv, you have to have a second test after three months. Hiv can be undetectable in the first few weeks of infection, it has a window period at which it is undetectable. EDUCATE yourself about STD's and do not allow your ignorance to make yourself so fearful ignorance that can in turn stigmatise people who may have hiv. Hepititis is 100 times easier to pick up than hiv and can live in a tiny dot of dried blood. Hiv requires you to have sexual intercourse to contract it or share a needle with someone who has it. Be safe, play safe, educate yourself and then inform your friends and family so they too can be knowledeable about STD's.
What are the chances of catching HIV if you have had unprotected sex a number of times , not anal just casual sex? and how high is the risk of catching HIV in this day and age?
Having unprotected sex is a risk and hiv is not the only sexually transmitted disease. Hepatitis is actually easier to catch. There are approximately 30 thousand people in the UK that are carrying the hiv virus and they don't know yet. Some groups ethnic and sexually orientated groups have a higher prevelance than others. However, hiv is increasing within all groups. Some people know they are hiv positive but they may choose not to tell you. Always use protection and go to a STD Clinic and have a full check up. Don't risk your health, anyone can get hiv and other STD's these days.
Hello I’m wonder if you may help me and put my mind to rest. About 12 weeks ago I had oral sex with a person i met up with;although the male ejaculated into my mouth I managed to spit the semen out. What is worrying me is I may have swallowed a little and some of the semen was in my mouth (I am Upshaw if the male has HIV. For the last 12 week iv had the following Symptoms - ( Rash - I also suffer from eczema so im unshaw on the Rash): Diarrhoea - lasts for 2 days then seems to come back every 4-5 weeks: and most resently Iv had a pain in my right shoulder: Abdominal Pain- only happend about 4 times in the 12 weeks: Burning in my feet at night: and Nausea - about 3 times in the 12 weeks. I am very very paranoid about this issue; Im loosing sleep as i am worrying all the time - which makes me tired and weak the next day; It is always on my mind and I just want to put a full stop to this matter; by finding out more info and seeing what you have to say. It would help me so much if you emailed back Thank you for your time ill hope to hear from you soon.
Your symptoms may be caused by all your worrying. Just go to a sexual health clinic and ask for a complete sexual health check up. It is a confidential and straight forward procedure and they won't ask you any questions about yourself. You are going to worry yourself to death. Be sensible and get tested. Also, always use protection even for oral sex, make it a habit to use protection and if the person does not want to put a condom on then don't have sex with them. There are hundreds of thousands of people out there who only have sex with condoms, be one of them and protect yourself.
im 22 years of age i was circumsised when i was young and i have had a rash on my penis for as long as i remember and know a days the rash has gotten out of hand i have been two embaressed to get it checked out but no a days it just is a major problem i have had unprotected sex two with dodgy women and i just wish to get a sexual health test done what advice can u give me
Simple .... get tested! Wherever you live in the country your local hospital wil have a GUM Clinic which specialises in testing people for STD's. It is their job to test people and they see thousands of people every day. You do not need to feel embarassed and they will tell you what the rash is. Being circumcised has probably got nothing to do with the rash, it could be anything. Go and check it out and don't worry about being embarassed. Your health is more important than a little bit of embarassment. Good luck.
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