Is Unprotected Anal Intercourse More Of An Hiv Risk Than Vaginal Or Oral Sex
Unprotected anal intercourse does carry a higher risk than most other forms of sexual activity. The lining of the rectum has fewer cells than that of the vagina, and therefore can be damaged more easily, causing bleeding during intercourse. This can then be a route into the bloodstream for infected sexual fluids or blood. There is also a risk to the insertive partner during anal intercourse, though this is lower than the risk to the receptive partner.
What We Know About Hormone And Steroid Injecting
Hormone and steroid injections can be done safely by a health care provider. But theres a chance that someone can get or transmit HIV if an HIV-negative person uses needles, syringes, or other injection equipment after someone with HIV has used them. This is because the needles, syringes, or other injection equipment may have blood in them, and blood can carry HIV. Likewise, youre at risk for getting or transmitting hepatitis B and C if you share syringes because these infections are also transmitted through blood.
More Information About 1 out of every 10 HIV diagnoses in the United States is among people who inject drugs. This includes gay and bisexual men who inject drugs. On average, an HIV-negative person has a 1 in 420 chance of getting HIV from a needlestick if the needle or syringe contains HIV-infected blood.
More Information There may be extremely tiny amounts of blood in syringes or works that you may not be able to see, but could still carry HIV. Be aware that HIV can survive in a used syringe for up to 42 days depending on temperature and other factors.
There are medicines to treat hepatitis B. If youve never had hepatitis B, theres a vaccine to prevent it. There are medicines to treat hepatitis C, but they arent right for everyone. Theres no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. Talk to your health care provider to learn more about hepatitis B and C.
Tips To Avoid Hiv Transmission
To prevent the spread of HIV, follow these guidelines:
- Use condoms during sexual intercourse
- Never share needles and syringes
- Avoid multiple sexual partners
- Use lubricant during sexual intercourse to reduce friction and dryness which can cause vaginal tears and broken condoms.
- Speak to your doctor about PrEP , if you believe you are at high risk of exposure. PrEP is a daily medication used to help prevent HIV.
- Speak to your doctor about taking post-exposure prophylaxis if you think you’ve just been exposed to the virus. PEP is a type of antiretroviral medication that help prevent HIV if started within 72 hours after you might have been exposed to the virus.
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How Do You Get Hiv
The HIV virus is in biological fluids of a HIV positive person. The virus in these fluids can pass through small wounds in the mouth, in the anus , in genital organ, or through skin lacerations , some through mucous membranes thus reaching the bloodstream of another person, infecting her. You can get infected also intravenously , sharing the same needles for injecting substances , or through transfusions of infected blood and its derivatives. Both men and women can be the source of HIV infection. Pregnant women or during childbirth or breastfeeding can also transmit the virus to their child . The most frequent ways of transmission of HIV are still: sharing syringes for injecting drugs / steroids and unprotected sex . HIV is not transmitted by touching or hugging an infected person using or sharing the same cups, glasses, cutlery or telephone going to places like swimming pools or public baths through insect bites . The HIV virus is not in the air or in food , and survives outside the body for a very short time . Currently, it is very unlikely to get HIV through blood transfusions in the United States and in western Europe due to the strict scrutiny applied.
How Can You Protect Yourself From Stds
The thought of STDs can be stressful. But instead of worrying, play it safe with these tips. Its the best way to lower your chances of catching an STD.
- Your partners oral health will affect you. So choose wisely and be wary, especially if deep kissing is a regular thing between the two of you.
- Stay in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone who doesnt have any STDs.
- Use condoms for good protection against STDs. Keep in mind that they arent perfect, though.
- Never share needles, as many STDs are transmitted through blood.20
References
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Prevention Of Infection While Kissing
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of passing on, or catching, an infection while kissing. You should try to:
- Avoid kissing when you or the other person is sick.
- Avoid kissing anyone on the lips when you, or they, have an active cold sore, warts or ulcers around the lips or in the mouth.
- Maintain good oral hygiene.
- Cough and sneeze into a hanky if you have a cold.
- See your doctor about immunisations. Vaccines are available to prevent some infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis B and group C meningococcal infection.
Now That I Have Hiv I Cant Have Kids
You may be able to safely have children. Doctors can help you take steps to lower or remove the chance that youâll pass the virus to your partner during conception. If youre pregnant, your doctor will give you HIV drugs to protect you and your baby. The baby may also be given medication after birth.
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Stds That Are Not Spread By Kissing
The National Health Service, UK, points out that common STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea cant be transmitted through kissing. Instead, these diseases are usually passed on through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex. The risky move of sharing sex toys can also do the trick. Lastly, an expectant mother can pass these STDs on to her baby.1819
Someone Told Me That You Can Get Hiv From Deep Kissing And Now Im Freaking Out Could I Have Gotten Aids From Making Out With My Boyfriend
Great question. First, its awesome that youre thinking about HIV prevention! Rates of a variety of sexually transmitted infections are currently on the rise among teens, and its important to be aware of how to protect yourself and your partner. Second, I have good news: You can relax. It is incredibly unlikely that you could have gotten HIV from kissing someone, even if it was deep.
To understand why, lets do a quick refresher on HIV/AIDS.
HIV is a virus that attacks your bodys immune system . If left untreated, HIV will make it super easy for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and certain cancers to attack your body, and you get very sick, very easily. At that point, you are considered to have AIDS . Today, HIV is manageable but NOT curable. This means that once HIV enters your body, it will be there for the rest of your life. However, if identified and properly treated, people with HIV can live long and happy lives.
You can get HIV from coming into contact with certain bodily fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. This list does NOT include saliva, so kissing is generally not a problem. The only time that someone can get HIV from kissing is if your partner is HIV positive AND bleeding in or near their mouth. So, avoid kissing people who have bleeding gums or open sores. Otherwise, you can make out as much as you want!
However, you should know that it is possible to transmit HIV via sex.
A version of this post was originally published in November, 2016.
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What Should I Do If My Test Is Positive
One of the first things you should do after receiving a positive outcome is to visit a Clinical Center with a Department of Infectious Diseases, for a first specialist visit. People with both symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV are followed entirely on an outpatient hospital both as regards the diagnostic tests that opportunistic infections and any antiretroviral therapy. This condition gives you the right to a full exemption from the ticket that will allow you to perform, for free, all controls and diagnostic tests related to it.
How Safe Is Oral Sex
Although it is possible to become infected with HIV through oral sex, the risk of becoming infected in this way is much lower than the risk of infection via unprotected sexual intercourse with a man or woman.When giving oral sex to a man a person could become infected with HIV if infected semen came into contact with damaged and receding gums, or any cuts or sores they might have in their mouth.
Giving oral sex to a woman is also considered relatively low risk. Transmission could take place if infected sexual fluids from a woman got into the mouth of her partner. The likelihood of infection might be increased if there is menstrual blood involved or if the woman is infected with another sexually transmitted disease.
The likelihood of either a man or a woman becoming infected with HIV as a result of receiving oral sex is extremely low, as saliva does not contain infectious quantities of HIV.
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How Is It Diagnosed
For cisgender women and anyone else with a cervix, HPV is usually diagnosed after a Pap smear produces an abnormal result.
Your provider may order a second Pap smear to confirm the original result or move straight to a cervical HPV test.
With this test, your provider will test cells from your cervix specifically for HPV.
If they detect a type that may be cancerous, they may perform a colposcopy to look for lesions and other abnormalities on the cervix.
Your provider can also examine any bumps that appear on the mouth, genitals, or anus to determine if theyre HPV-related warts.
Your provider may recommend or perform an anal Pap smear, especially if you develop anal warts or other unusual symptoms.
For cisgender men and other people assigned male at birth, theres not currently a test for HPV.
Can I Transmit Hiv To My Baby During Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding
An HIV-infected pregnant woman can pass the virus on to her unborn baby either before or during birth. HIV can also be passed on during breastfeeding. If a woman knows that she is infected with HIV, there are drugs she can take to greatly reduce the chances of her child becoming infected. Other ways to lower the risk include choosing to have a caesarean section delivery and not breastfeeding.
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Myth : You Cant Get Hiv If Youre On Birth Control
The pill might protect you from an unwanted pregnancy, but its no match for HIV. Same goes for other types of birth control, like IUDs, patches, and rings.
If you want to get down without risking HIV transmission, your best bet is to use a condom or other barrier method or PrEP.
Nope, swapping spit doesnt spread HIV . Feel free to hold hands, hug, and share a soda while youre at it.
HIV can be transmitted only through:
- blood
- anal mucous
- breast milk
Saliva doesnt carry enough traces of the virus to worry about, and research as far back as the mid- to late 80s has found that kissing is not a risk factor for transmission of HIV.
Why Is Hiv Test Recommended To All Pregnant Women
A HIV-positive pregnant woman can transmit the infection to her child during pregnancy, during delivery, and after birth during breastfeeding. To prevent this, antiretroviral drugs both before and after childbirth are prescribed. The test is not obligatory but voluntary and is carried out after signing an informed consent, but it is definitely recommended because it allows women who are positive to access preventive medical treatment, and HIV-negative women to become aware of all the information to prevent future exposure to the virus, thanks to medical advice.
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Deep Kissing And Hiv Transmission
I just read this article which quotes Luc Montaigner:
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Deep kissing and HIV transmission
Contrary to some studies, renowned French researcher and scientist, Prof. Luc Montaigner, who discovered that AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus , has revealed that HIV can be transmitted through kissing. Speaking at an AIDS workshop at Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Aug. 29, Montaigner said while many scholars ignore the risk involved with kissing, research has proved that deep kissing leads to contamination. “Deep kissing where there is exchange of saliva leads to Aids,” Montaigner told Aids researchers and journalists. He explained that salivary glands contain viral components and can transmit these components to a partner during the kissing process. He said it is worse if one’s partner has mouth ulcers or wounds. Montaigner is president of the World Foundation for Aids Research and Prevention, director of research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientific in Paris and head of the Viral Onchology Unit at the Virology department at Institut Pasteur, where he also head. From The Monitor August 30, 2000. http://allafrica.com/stories/200008300010.htmls the AIDS-
Retroviruses department.
===============
Okay, I am thoroughly confused now. Has Deep Kissing now become a higher risk activity? Also, Mr. Montaigner specifically states, “research has proved that deep kissing leads to contamination.” Did I blink and miss some critical study results?
What Do We Know About Touching
Theres extremely low to no risk for getting or transmitting HIV from touching. The only possible risk would be if body fluids from a partner with HIV touch the mucous membranes or damaged tissue of someone whos HIV-negative. Mucous membranes can be found inside the rectum, the vagina, the opening of the penis, and the mouth. Damaged tissue could include a cut, sore, or open wound.
Theres a chance of getting or transmitting other sexually transmitted diseases through touching because some STDs can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.
You could also get or transmit other kinds of infections, like hepatitis A and hepatitis B virus parasites like Giardia and bacteria such as Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, or E. coli if you touch someones anus because you may get feces on your hands or fingers.
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Does Hiv Viral Load Affect Getting Or Transmitting Hiv
Yes. Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood of someone who has HIV. Taking HIV medicine daily as prescribed can make the viral load very lowso low that a test cant detect it .
People with HIV who take HIV medicine daily as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex.
HIV medicine is a powerful tool for preventing sexual transmission of HIV. But it works only as long as the HIV-positive partner gets and keeps an undetectable viral load. Not everyone taking HIV medicine has an undetectable viral load. To stay undetectable, people with HIV must take HIV medicine every day as prescribed and visit their healthcare provider regularly to get a viral load test. Learn more.
Is It Possible To Transmit Hiv Through Saliva
It is only possible to transmit HIV through saliva if there are co-factors such as bleeding gums, throat or urethral infections or a high viral load. Saliva does carry the HIV virus but in such low quantities that it is not possible to pass on the infection through kissing or spitting as long as there are no open sores or bleeding gums which result in the exchange of blood. Even cases involving the transference of HIV through saliva with co-factors are extremely rare. However, infection is possible through oral sex but to a much lower degree than anal or vaginal sex.
High concentrations of HIV are present in blood, vaginal fluid, semen, breast milk and any other body fluids which contain blood. Any exchange of these fluids between an infected and a non-infected person is highly risky. There are very low quantities of HIV in saliva so it is not possible to transmit HIV through saliva alone as, to become infected with the virus, there has to be a sufficient quantity of the virus transferred. There is no transmission risk from kissing unless both partners have severely bleeding gums or large open sores in their mouth. There is no risk from sharing glasses, spitting or sneezing as the virus cannot spread or maintain infectiousness in the open air.
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Lowering The Risk Of Sexual Transmission
There are several protective measures which dramatically reduce the risk of HIV transmission during sex. You can find out more about these on other pages.
pre-exposure prophylaxis
Antiretroviral drugs used by a person who does not have HIV to be taken before possible exposure to HIV in order to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection. PrEP may either be taken daily or according to an event based or on demand regimen.
Undetectable viral load: when people with HIV take effective treatment, the amount of HIV in their body fluids falls drastically, to the point where they cannot pass HIV on to their sexual partners. An extremely low level of HIV in body fluids is referred to as an undetectable viral load. The knowledge that this prevents transmission is often referred to ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable’ .
PrEP: if the HIV-negative person takes antiretroviral medications as pre-exposure prophylaxis , this significantly reduces the risk of acquiring HIV. The most common form of PrEP is in a tablet, but it can also be provided as a vaginal ring or an injection.
Condoms: if male condoms or female condoms are used, this significantly reduces the risk of acquiring HIV.
Male circumcision: if you are circumcised, this partially lowers your risk of acquiring HIV during vaginal sex.