Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

What It Is

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. You can get HIV if you do any of the following:

  • Have sex with someone who has HIV. It can be spread by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Your partner could have HIV and not know it.
  • Share needles with someone who has HIV.

Be aware that:

  • A mother who has HIV can pass it on to her baby before the baby is born, during childbirth, or through her breast milk.
  • If you have any other STD, it could be easier for you to get infected with HIV.

You can have a simple blood test to find out if you have HIV. To find an STD testing center near you, please visit www.hivtest.org.

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Symptoms

You or your partner can have HIV and not know it. It can be months or years before you feel sick or have any serious signs, but you can still pass HIV to others. Though some people have no symptoms, some signs of HIV may include:

  • Rapid weight loss
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Night sweats
  • Feeling very tired
  • Thrush (yeast infection of the mouth)
  • Vaginal yeast infections (that often keep coming back after you have been treated)

How HIV Spreads

HIV is passed through:

  • Blood
  • Vaginal and anal-sex (women and men)
    • Vaginal fluids
    • Pre-"cum" and semen
  • Breast milk

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Long-Term Effects

If you get HIV, it can affect every part of your body. Treatment can help with this, but the virus is still in your body and you can pass it to others.

HIV can cause these problems:

  • You can give it to others.
  • You have a higher chance of getting other STDs and infections.
  • Over time, HIV keeps your body from fighting off diseases.

When your body can't fight off diseases, you could get infections often. You might also have:

  • Dangerous weight loss
  • Cancer
  • Mental problems
  • Blindness
  • HIV can also cause death

If a woman has HIV and is pregnant, she should tell her doctor right away. Her baby will need special care all though the pregnancy could be born with HIV.

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Treatment

HIV can't be cured. There are some medicines that can slow down the growth of HIV for a long time, but the virus is still in the body. It can still be passed to others.

  • Your doctor will make a treatment plan just for you.
  • You may need special medicines.
  • Tell your partner(s) that you have HIV.

If you think you may be pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor before you get treated.

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