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Conditions

HIV / AIDS

HIV particles budding from a lymphocyte

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.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

i recently went on holiday with a friend and ended up having a one night stand with a greek man, now i am realy worried i may have hiv are there any symptoms.

Hello, i sent a comment to you on the How to check your testicle Video, but i was just wondering about this subject too. So ill explain again..

I recently had unprotected sex with a girl, but a few days after, i had unprotected sex with a boy! When we had sex I had anal sex with him, and when he put his penis up me, his penis was very hard and i immediately took it out, but ever since i have been passing blood, and he gave me oral sex too (sucking on my penis in this case, and biting my balls) im now bleeding out of my penis. Do you think i have aids/hiv? please help im so worried. my balls are so heavy, and feel like its full of blood or fluid. im really scared!! :'(

Hi there I was wonderin if you can get aids if 2 people who dont have the infection mix blood

I was wondering how accurate HIV tests are? How accurate are saliva based tests as opposed to blood tests? What is the risk from unprotected oral sex?

hi just got my hiv results, however i don't understand one thing my gp tried to explain but not enought time 5 minutes appoinment.

hiv screening test—- Equivocal ( was the cause)
hiv antibody/antigen (duo) (negative)
hiv 1& 2 (negative)
i know am clear but still don't understand the cause for equivocal please help

i am 22 years of age and been with my partner 4 3 and a half years now we have a 2 year old daughter together,shortly after i had my daughter i found out my parter was a newly formed heroin addict which is still a continuess problem im extreamly worried about this infection/desease and would deeply appreciate any help,advise and information please! thank you.

I have had blood tests for other things and have had an STI test which came back clear of all diseases tested for. Wont any HIV activity show up on my previous tests or does it have to be targetted to be found? It is the only one I am scared of taking. I had a miscarriage a while back and a possible reason I have seen for them is HIV. This has made me even more scared to take a test. Not knowing at the moment is easier because I seem to be ok. If it didnt take so long for a result and it wasnt scary I would go for it!

I was diagnosed with HIV 5years ago. I think if you use a condom the risks of catching HIV are very very low.
Having a sexual health test should not be scary – it's the only way to find out you and your partners sexual health. Be brave and put your mind at rest.
Google HIV and there's easy to understand info about the disease,the ways to become infected and the risks.

hi there
In Jan 2008 I returned from working in Africa, I had an African sexually partner over there, I didn’t know here sexually history, but one night the condom broke and I did not realise what had happened until I’d finished. Now I am home, I went to the local gum clinic 6 months after the incident and the results came back negative. Is there a possibility that HIV can be contracted at a later date?. I think that I worry about it too much, and make myself ill due to this, because before my first 6 month test, I made myself so ill (flu, panic attacks etc), is this just a psychological factor?, the result came back negative and i was fine then…but no the thoughts are slowly coming back that i could contract it at a later date, am i just being stupid? Thanks again

I am really anxious and worried, which has made me unwell. i have been with my husband for 14 years and i know i am low risk but i am a person who generally worries anyway. i am 14 weeks preganant and had routine antenatel bloods taken for STD's which are sent to the national blood bank for testing. It has now been 4 weeks and not heard anything. i have have spoken to the local hosptial and my Gp they have not yet received the results. i dont see my midwife for another 3 weeks. i think its really unfair how long i have had to wait to get the results, is there any thng i can do? i dread the thought that i have to wait another 3 weeks




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