HIV prevention includes abstaining from sex and not sharing needles. Monogamous relationships with HIV-negative partners and using barrier methods like condoms can also help. STDs increase the risk of HIV transmission, and syringe exchange programs can help prevent needle sharing.
HIV prevention comes in many forms. There are ideal methods and then those that can help minimize the risk. HIV is contracted through various activities which include any form of sexual intercourse, standard or otherwise, with a person infected with the virus. The other common form of transmission is sharing needles with an infected person. Contrary to popular belief, blood transfusions are not a standard method by which HIV is spread, and special testing methods are now in place in most countries to check the safety of donated blood before it is used. In pregnant women and HIV carriers, the use of antiviral drugs during pregnancy and cesarean delivery can help prevent mother-to-child spread of HIV.
In most cases, there are two ways HIV prevention works best. People should abstain from sex of any kind. Sexual activity includes oral and anal sex in addition to standard vaginal intercourse. Second, people shouldn’t be sharing needles of any kind.
Of course, abstaining from intercourse isn’t always realistic. Therefore, there are other HIV prevention guidelines. These definitely include just having sex in a monogamous relationship with a person who doesn’t have the virus. Those who are new to a relationship should engage in monogamy, and before any sexual relationship, both members of a couple should be tested for HIV. As difficult as it may seem to wait for the tests to come back, a life spent battling this virus is much more challenging.
When people refuse to wait for an HIV test, there are some good HIV prevention methods, even if they aren’t as safe. The first of these is the use of barrier methods for birth control. Barrier methods include male and female condoms. Preventing contact with bodily fluids from one partner to the other can help greatly reduce the chance of contracting HIV. For women and men, the couple is advised to use both a male condom and contraceptive foam. Women and men shouldn’t use male and female condoms at the same time, as the friction of these two can actually cause tearing, which not only may not prevent HIV, but can also increase the chances of pregnancy.
The following are not barrier methods and will not help in HIV prevention:
Contraceptive sponges
IUD
Membrane
Birth control pills, patches or injections
Contraceptive foam or jelly used alone
The presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as the herpes virus can make HIV transmission more likely. A person with an active case of herpes should abstain from intercourse until it clears up. Also, it is important for people who have an STD to get tested for HIV before resuming intercourse. An STD suggests that unsafe sex occurred at some time in the past, which puts that person at a higher risk of carrying HIV.
Those who reject a monogamous lifestyle should inform their partners, even if this will create difficulties in a relationship. Nobody wants to carry the burden of having infected someone else with HIV. It’s just not worth risking someone else’s life to avoid this discussion. Many people are able to resolve the difficulties that come with relationships, and by waiting and getting tested, many couples can resume sexual activity after the tests are back in order. Likewise, those who share or have shared needles have an obligation to help prevent HIV by letting partners know that this behavior has occurred.
As for sharing syringes, many cities have syringe exchange programs. These are sometimes frowned upon by those who discourage drug use. Clearly drug use is exceptionally dangerous, but from a purely pragmatic point of view, paying for people infected with the HIV virus is much more expensive. Most places that offer needle exchange programs also have extensive programs aimed at helping people kick drug addiction.
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