September 27th is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Do you know your HIV status? #KnowingIsSexy is a movement dedicated to HIV awareness, prevention and testing. After all, Knowing is sexy, right? #KnowingIsSexy is a project of the Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD.
HIV/AIDS Facts
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s similar to other viruses, such as those that cause colds and the flu, with one important difference — the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means if you get HIV, you get it for life.
Many people don’t realize they have HIV because they feel fine. If someone is infected with HIV and doesn’t get medical treatment, HIV can destroy so many CD4 cells that the body can’t fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS. That is why it is important to get tested and to seek medical treatment as soon as possible if HIV is detected. There is no cure, but with proper medical care, the virus can be controlled.
How is HIV Transmitted?
HIV is usually spread through blood and genital fluids, including pre-seminal fluid and semen (also known as pre-cum and cum). Anyone can become infected with HIV by engaging in unprotected sex (anal, vaginal or oral) or other types of sexual behavior with an HIV-positive person, or by sharing needles, syringes or other injection equipment with someone who is infected with HIV. The disease cannot be spread through air or water, insect bites, saliva, tears, sweat, casual contact like shaking hands or sharing dishes, or closed-mouth or social kissing.
Know the Risks
Not having sex is the best way to protect yourself from HIV infection. But if you are having sex, it is important to know the risks of different types of sexual activity. In general, high-risk behavior includes the following:
- Unprotected sex with multiple partners or partners you do not know
- Unprotected sex with a person who has HIV
- Sharing needles for injection drug use
The sexual behavior that has the highest risk of transmitting HIV between gay and bisexual men is unprotected anal sex.
For more information on the Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD call 334-262-1629 or visit www.cosancadd.org.
