AFRO Health | HIV/Aids Trivia

HIV/AIDS Trivia

I've had blood test before. The medical staff said I was okay. Does it mean I don't have HIV?

No.
Different kinds of blood tests focus on different infections/diseases. The result of an individual blood test can only indicate whether the tested person is infected with particular virus (such as HIV or STIs etc.), or suffering from certain disease (such as diabetes, anemia etc.).

You have to make sure you know clearly what kind of tests you have taken/are going to take, and understand that the individual test result does not reflect your overall health condition.

I have had HIV testing before and the result was negative. Does it mean I don't have HIV and don’t need to do HIV testing anymore?

No.
First of all, you have to understand what kind of HIV testing you have had and know well about the window period.

When a person has been infected with HIV, it takes time for the body to either build a response to the infection or for the virus to replicate enough for a test to detect it, which is commonly called the window period. During this period, there is already HIV in the body. It can be transmitted to another person but cannot be detected by an HIV test yet, and a false negative result is therefore possible.

You can only be certain that you are HIV negative when you get tested after the window period (which varies depending on the type of testing kit and method) , and refrain completely from unsafe sexual activities and sharing of needles during the window period.

Can you tell if a person is infected with HIV by his/her appearance?

During the incubation period of any STIs and HIV, a person can show no overt symptoms. Based on appearance, they may look the same as everyone else. However, they can still pass the virus onto other people through unprotected sexual contact, blood contact, and mother-to-child transmission. Even after the incubation period, as long as the person is undergoing proper treatments, they can remain asymptomatic. Therefore, it is important to never share needles and razors blades with other people. Condoms should be worn during oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse.

Do only sexually promiscuous people have HIV?

"I only have one sexual partner– my husband, there’s no way I can contract HIV!"

Many people believe only sexually promiscuous people have a chance of getting HIV. However, if your partner has had multiple sexual partners in the past or is currently engaging in other high risk activities, you can still be at risk of infection. Moreover, a person can remain symptoms free years after infections, it is thus important that you protect yourself even if you only have one sexual partner. Condoms should be correctly used whenever you engage in sexual intercourse.

Do we still have to use condoms if both of us have been infected with HIV?

Yes!
Even if both parties have been infective with HIV, the particular strain(s) of the virus can be different. Virus can also undergo mutations within the body. Unprotected sex between two infected persons increases the chance of cross-infections, which in turn increases the chance of developing drug resistance, and undermines the effectiveness of HIV treatment. It is thus imperative that condoms be correctly used regardless of infection status.

Will one die soon after being infected with HIV?

HIV is no longer an automatic death sentence. In the 1980s and 90s, the HIV-related death rate was high as there were no effective treatments for HIV infection. Since the development of cocktail therapy, HIV-infected persons can lead normal lives as long as they adhere to the medication regime and schedule in combination with a healthy lifestyle.

Does the so called "cocktail therapy" mean drinking cocktails to treat HIV?

Just like pineapple bun does not contain any pineapple, cocktail therapy does not involve drinking any cocktails. Cocktail therapy refers to a treatment method for HIV infection with a combination of three of more antiretroviral medications to lower drug resistance and inhibit viral load. It can significantly improve patients’ quality of life. The treatment gets its name - cocktail therapy - because the mixing of different medications is similar to the making of cocktail drinks (mixing of different flavours and alcohol).

"Can STI or HIV be transmitted by mosquito bites? Can poultry or pets spread STIs/HIV?"

To date, there is no medical records showing that people have contracted the disease through mosquito bites. STIs/HIV is contracted via human contacts, not animal-related contacts.

Oral sex is risk-free?

Oral sex means mouth-genitalia contact. Cuts or mouth sores or bleeding gums may increase risk for HIV/STI infection during oral sex.

To lower the risk, condom should also be used when having oral sex. There are condoms specially designed for oral sex with flavour (such as mint, strawberry, banana etc.) to make it less uncomfortable when using.

Does shower before or after sex and extracorporeal ejaculation make it safe?

Absolutely not!
During intercourse, virus can enter directly through the mucus membranes via the exchange of body fluid of both parties. Without using a condom, one may still be infected or impregnated even it is only extracorporeal ejaculation. A shower after after sex does not help, either.

Can I reuse a condom?

No!
Please do not use the same condom for oral sex, vaginal sex, or anal sex. During oral sex, your teeth may create micro tears that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Always use a new condom for each kind of sex you have.

Two condoms are better than one?

No!
Condoms are made primarily of latex. The friction created by using two condoms will cause them to tear more easily. Thus, using two condoms instead of one actually increases the chance of infections.

Are homosexuals are more likely to get HIV?

No!
Whether you are homosexual or heterosexual, HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contacts. Sexual orientation does not affect risk of infection, only the types of sexual contacts are relevant. For example, the anus and rectum do no secrete lubrication during anal intercourse, the skin thus breaks more easily due to friction. If condoms are not used, the risk of infection would be higher.

Please be reminded to use condoms correctly and consistently during sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, and anal) and when necessary in combination with the right type of lubricants in order to lower the risk of infections.

Females are more likely to contract HIV than males?

In 2019, an estimated 19.2 million women were living with HIV, constituting more than half of all adults aged 15 and over living with HIV. The female vaginal tract is lined with mucous membrane which can make women more exposed to the virus than the male’s penis. On top of which, viral load is more abundant in semen than in vaginal discharge. All of these factors combined put females at a higher risk of HIV infections during heterosexual sex. In some countries, the privilege of sexual power are held solely by men. Women are often demanded to engage in unprotected sex, which further increases their risk of infection.

Can contraceptive pills and intra-uterine device prevent STIs/HIV?

No!
Contraceptive pills and intra-uterine device can only prevent pregnancy. They cannot prevent STIs/HIV.

Is there an effective HIV vaccine?

No.
There isn’t any effective drugs or vaccines to cure HIV in modern science. Alternative therapies such as Chinese herbal medicines and holistic herbal medicines cannot prevent or treat HIV infections, either.

Is antibiotics an effective prevention of HIV or cure of AIDS?

No!
Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics can create even stronger antibiotic-resistant bacteria and thus cause harm.

Is vaginal douching an effective prevention of HIV or cure of AIDS?

No!
Vaginal douching washes away good bacteria that are supposed to give your vagina protection. Frequent and inadequate vaginal douching can also increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy complications, and cervical cancer.

Download: Tips On Fighting HIV/AIDS (Eng & Thai)Download: AIDS Trivia (Eng & Thai)