Today is World AIDS Day

An estimated 33.4 million people are living with HIV worldwide, with an estimated 1.1 million of those here in the U.S.

As many as 1 in 5 of those infected in the U.S. don't even know they're infected. That means they're probably not taking any precautions not to spread the virus further.

Please. Get tested, preferably at a facility that offers counseling and testing. In this context, counseling means that a trained person will speak with you confidentially about your specific risk behaviors, if you have any, and discuss ways to make yourself safer.

Here is a link to the CDC's database of HIV testing centers. I can also help you find someplace to test. Feel free to private message me.

In the meantime, here are some things to know about HIV and how it's spread, and some ways you can make yourself safer:

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.
> 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.

Check out the CDC's World AIDS Day page for more info (or ask me!).