HIV prevention
Sexually transmitted diseases are a growing problem in the world, not only because of poor decisions, but mostly because many of them simply aren’t able to be cured. This means that unless you are being absolutely careful with your partner, you could end up on the wrong side of the equation. Although there are many STD’s, the one we’ll focus on in this article is not only one of the most prevalent, but also the most dangerous. HIV, also called human immunodeficiency virus, is one of the leading killers in the realm of sexually transmitted diseases. Although HIV itself is not deadly, once it transforms into the AIDS virus, it is guaranteed to be fatal. Therefore, HIV prevention is an essential issue to discuss to make sure that both you and your family members stay safe.
There are 3 ways that HIV is transmitted:
1. Sexual intercourse or contact with an infected person. This includes oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse. The only way to protect yourself in this situation by avoiding direct contact.
2. Via direct contact with the blood of an infected person. This means that any open cut or wound that comes into contact with infected blood can put you at risk.
3. Mother to child. If a mother infected with HIV or AIDS becomes pregnant, she stands at strong risk to pass it on to the child.
In the early 80’s, before blood was tested for HIV, there were many cases of people becoming infected from transfusions. Luckily, this situation has changed dramatically and this circumstance is rare. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t contract HIV by being in contact with the blood of an infected person. This means that you should wear gloves anytime that you are in contact with someone else’s blood, regardless of the necessity of the situation.
The leading cause for transmission of HIV is via sexual intercourse. The best way to protect yourself in this case is by wearing a condom, regardless of whether you are a male or female. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, birth control pills are not a method of HIV prevention. The only thing that works is condoms or staying abstinent. If you have a partner, then make sure that you do not stray, otherwise you risk getting infected. Therefore, condoms, abstinence, and being faithful are the best ways to prevent yourself from contract an STD or HIV. Aside from that, you are putting yourself and your partner at risk.
The last case for transmission is from mother to baby, which isn’t guaranteed to occur but the odds are not in your favor if you are an infected parent. That is why doctors recommend that you avoid pregnancy in the event that you have HIV or AIDS. It is unfair to raise a baby with HIV and should be avoided at all costs. In the event that you do have HIV or AIDS and become pregnant, make sure that you see a doctor to talk about possible medication or other forms of treatment. Although you can’t do anything to change the risk, you can still be prepared for any complications that might occur during pregnancy.
Although there are prescriptions that can delay the onset of AIDS, there is still no cure. As research continues to improve, maybe there will be a cure in the future. However, in the meantime HIV prevention is the only way to stay safe and disease free. If you would like to learn more about HIV prevention, I strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor about how you can stay as safe as possible.
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