Why is AIDS called a sexually transmitted disease?
A sexually transmitted disease, or STD, is a disease spread through sexual contact. These diseases may also be called venerial
diseases, or VD. Since AIDS can be spread through sexual contact, it is considered a sexually transmitted disease.
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What is meant by the term sexual contact?
Sexual contact is basically having any sex, like l sex, oral sex, and sex. Vaginal sex is when a man's penis penetrates a woman's vagina. Oral sex is when the mouth comes in contact with the man's penis. Anal sex is when a man's penis
penetrates another's rectum.
Sexual contact can take place between a man and a woman; a man and a man; and a woman and a woman. Homosexual sex is having
sex with someone of the same gender. Heterosexual sex takes place between a man and a woman.
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How is HIV spread through vaginal sex?
In l sex, the man's penis comes in direct contact with the woman's vagina. Becuase there are some blood vessels in
the woman's vaginal walls, the virus could be passed from the man's bodily fluids to woman. The virus can also enter
either the woman or man through cuts each may have on their genitals. Remember, the cuts don't have to be large for HIV
to be transferred.
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How is HIV spread through sex?
In sex, the man's penis comes in direct contact with another's anus and rectum. Becuase the walls of the rectum are
very thin and are not made for sexual intercourse, they can tear easily during sex, causing bleeding to occur. This
greatly increases the risk of HIV transmission.
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How is HIV spread through oral sex?
There is a small chance that a person receiving oral sex can become infected. If a person's partner is infected and has
cuts or sores on his/her mouth, blood infected with HIV can be transferred to the person giving oral sex. However, the
chance of getting AIDS through oral sex are unknown.
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Is oral sex really that risky?
Well, yes. Even though oral sex is less risky than or vaginal sex, the chances of getting AIDS through oral
sex are real. Oral sex puts you in direct contact with bodily fluids that can transmit HIV; putting you at risk. Oral
sex can also spread other diseases like herpes, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
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Is all sex dangerous?
Any activity where there is the possibility of ther person's bodily fluids coming into contact with another person's bloodstream is unsafe. The only real form of completely safe sex is abstinense, or not having sex at all. This doesn't mean that you
have to live in fear of having sex or that you can never have sex. What is means is that you must know the facts about how HIV is transmitted and how to protect yourself. There are many things you can do you minimize the risk of HIV. This is called
having safer sex. See question 45.
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What are some safer sex practices?
Having safer sex is anything that you can do that will decrease the possibility of contracting HIV, other diseases, or getting pregnant. This includes using a condom, dental dams, and spermicides. Spermicides, however, will not stop someone from
getting HIV.
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What is a condom?
A condom, or a rubber, is a sheath made of latex rubber that fits over the penis and prevents the man's bodily fluids from coming in contact with his partner. Condoms are sold in many different places, like drug stores and grocery stores. You don't
need a prescription and there isn't an age limit. Condoms help prevent pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
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Do all types of condoms offer protection against the transmission of HIV?
No. Although there are a few differnt types of condoms, only latex condoms offer STD protection. Condoms made from animal membranes have pores in the condom- these allow HIV to pass through it. If you want to prevent pregnancy, it is also good to
use a spermicide called nonoxynol-9. Nowadays, many condoms have nonoxynol-9 in them.
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Are condoms 100% effective?
No. But, if condoms are used properly, they provide the best protection against HIV transmittion, orther sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy. However, the condom can break, which increases the possibility of transferring the AIDS virus.
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What do I do if a condom breaks?
When a condoms breaks when you are having sex, stop sexual activity immediately. You can usually feel it when the condom breaks. The man should pull out as soon as possible and should resume sexual activity until another condom is put on.
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How can I protect myself during oral sex?
When having oral sex, it's still best to use a condom for men or a dental dam for women. Dental dams are also sold at most drugstores. If there isn't one available, using saran wrap (not the microwaveable kind) is a good substitute. The dental
dam is placed over the woman's and held in place with the fingers, preventing the mouth from coming in contact with the woman's vaginal fluids.
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What can I do if my religion prohibits the use of condoms?
Unfortunantly, there isn't a clear cut answer. This is a choice you have to make yourself.
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My partner says that if I love him I won't make him wear condoms. What should I do?
Proving your love for someone has absolutely nothing to do with wearing a condom. A condom is used for one thing: safety. When your parter says this, what's really meant is that he doesn't care enough about you or himself to protect you both from AIDS.
It's your choice, but when you are sleeping with your partner, you are also sleeping with every single person your partner has had sex with. So, unless you know everything about your partner, it might be unwise to "prove your love".
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How can I talk to my partner about safer sex?
The best way to bring us the subject about safer sex is to simply start talking about AIDS and how you feel about it. This will naturally bring up the topic about safer sex. If you have just met someone and are thinking about having sex, tell the person
straight up that you practice safer sex. If this turns the person off, then he or she probably wasn't worth the trouble.
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How do I say no to risky behavior?
Saying no to risky behavior is just like saying no to anything else where peer pressure lies. If there is a party where drugs or alchohal is involved, you can just leave. If you get asked to so something you don't want to do, just say "no thanks". If
someone is trying to pressure you into having sex, just say "no" and leave. Remember, a few minutes of pleasure isn't worth many years of sickness and unhappiness.
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How do drugs and alcohol affect risky behavior?
Drugs and alchohal distort your perception and your ability to think clearly. When you are high or drunk, you don't know what you are doing and you might so things that you wouldn't normally do. When you finally become sober many hours later, you won't
remember what happened. Drugs and alchohal also decrease your immune system's ability to fight off viruses like HIV.
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Can spermicides kill the AIDS virus?
Spermicides are designed to kill sperm. They are designed to go along with condoms to prevent pregnancy. They don't offer protection to contracting STDs like HIV and Herpes.
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Is being on the pill or using a diaphragm enough to protect me from the AIDS virus
Birth control pills are designed to prevent pregnancy by affecting the woman's hormone system that control the reproductive cycle. They have no effect against HIV.
Diaphragms are rubber barriers that is inserted in the woman's to prevent sperm from entering the woman's cervix. Sponges have the same effect except that they absorb the semen. Both will not help prevent HIV from spreading, becuase both allow the
man's semen to cone in contact with the vaginal walls of the woman.
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Is deep, or French, kissing okay?
Yes. Although HIV has been traced in small amounts in saliva, it is nearly impossible to contract AIDS through kissing. You would have to swallow over a gallon of your partner's saliva in order to get enough HIV to be dangerous.
Still, people who have sores in their mouth should still be careful of kissing others becuase the chance of getting HIV is higher.
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I've been with the same partner for two years. Do we have to worry?
If you and your partner have had a completely monogamous relationship and did not participate in any risky behavior, you are probably safe. However, HIV can stay dormant in someone's body for over 10 years, so it's best to know everything
about your partner just to be safe. Unless you know everything you partner has ever done, you can't be certain that s/he has HIV unless s/he gets tested.
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How is HIV spread by using needles?
When the needle is stuck in your body, it comes in contact with your blood. When you pull the needles out, some blood is drawn back up the syringe. If this needle is passed to another person, he/she comes in direct contact with the first
person's blood. Sharing dirty needles is just like injecting HIV into your bloodstream. Remember,
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I use intravenous drugs. How can I keep safe?
If you must use intravenous drugs, you must never share needles with anyone. You must fill the syringe to the top with bleach and empty it twice. Then, you must do the same thing with boiling water. This is the only efficient way of cleaning a needle.
Placing the needle of over a match or candle won't do the job.
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