World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a new person is infected with HIV every nine-and-a-half minutes in the United States and 1 in 5 of the over one million Americans infected with HIV is unaware of their infection.

I volunteer as an HIV Counselor a couple times a month. It is astounding how much misinformation is still perpetuated and how many of my clients still don't know the basics of how HIV is transmitted and how they can protect themselves.

Here are the facts:

> HIV can only be transmitted through four bodily fluids: blood, semen (even pre-cum), vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
> Other bodily fluids--tears, saliva, urine, sweat--are safe.
> The virus must get into your bloodstream in order for you to become infected.
> While it's possible to get HIV through unprotected oral sex, it's a relatively safe behavior where HIV is concerned. It's very risky for other STDs, however.
> Unprotected vaginal and anal sex are very, very risky for HIV.
> There is a 3-6 month window period for HIV testing. That means if you had a possible exposure yesterday, you could get tested tomorrow and your result would be negative...even if you were infected with HIV yesterday. You must get tested 3-6 months from your last possible exposure to have a 100% certain negative result.

Here are the ways you can protect yourself:

> Do not--I repeat--do not have unprotected sex, unless you and your partner(s) have tested negative for HIV.
> Don't brush or floss 2 hours before or 2 hours after having oral sex. Brushing and flossing can create minor cuts and abrasions in your mouth, opening a channel for HIV to get into your bloodstream.
> Don't allow someone to come into your mouth and don't swallow. Both increase how much of your body you're exposing to the virus.
> Don't engage in oral sex if you or your partner(s) have a sore throat, cold sore, cuts or sores in or around the mouth, etc. Any of these could be a pathway to the bloodstream for HIV infected fluids.
> If you use injection drugs, don't share needles.

Please. If you're sexually active, get tested for HIV and STDs. If you're unsure where to go or embarrassed or scared about getting a test, I can help you locate a local testing facility you can trust, who will guide you through the process.