In the 21st century, HIV stigma is significantly low, primarily due to the empowerment we have received from HIV education. Many people understand what can cause HIV transmission, but few know how to protect themselves from the virus. According to HealthyMD HIV is more common than you think, if you are at risk of exposure or know someone who is, it is a good idea to get reliable information backed by research that can help you and your loved one make informed choices. Such information will empower you to protect yourself from the transmission and break any myths and false beliefs you may unknowingly harbor concerning the HIV-positive population.
Avoid Unprotected Sex
Having safe sex using condoms cuts down the risk of exposure by 80% for vaginal sex and 92% for anal sex. HIV is transferred through blood, breast milk, and semen but not through other bodily fluids and substances like urine, saliva, or fecal waste. Using a condom prevents the transfer of semen and blood by creating a barrier that the virus cannot pass. During sex, condoms may break but water-based and oil-based lubricants prevent such occurrences. Avoid using petroleum jelly, vaseline, and massage oil, as these weaken the condom and increase the risk of breakage. If a condom does break, there’s an increased risk of exposure. But, beginning a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment within 72 hours can flush out the virus and help you maintain an HIV-negative status.
Take Advantage Of Pep And Prep Medications
The abbreviation ‘PrEP’ stands for ‘pre-exposure prophylaxis,’ a treatment offered to people at high risk of HIV exposure. These may include commercial sex workers, discordant couples (where one spouse is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative), and people who have unprotected sex with multiple partners. PrEP prevents the virus beforehand by hindering its multiplication in the body.
PrEP treatments help the body produce more antibodies to fight the virus. Tenofovir and emtricitabine hinder the enzyme that HIV needs to replicate. It takes seven days of daily use for the treatment to reach its maximum protection, and it is taken for another 21 days after exposure to the virus. The post-exposure prophylaxis treatment (PEP) is taken no more than three days after exposure for four weeks.
Avoid Illegal Drugs
Illegal drugs will not infect you with HIV, but sharing needles when injecting the drugs into the body may lead to HIV exposure. The rate of needle sharing remains notably high despite needle exchange programs providing drug users with enough needles to use on a 1:1 ratio. Commonly used preventative measures like boiling the needles or disinfecting them at home do not eliminate the risk of exposure. The best possible precaution is to avoid illegal drug use and any situation requiring sharing of sensitive medical tools like needles.
Do Not Worry About Physical Contact
HIV is not transmitted by touch or exchange of saliva or sweat. You do not need to worry about sharing a spoon with an HIV-infected person unless they have a wound producing blood and you, too, have an open wound in your mouth. Physical activities like shaking hands, sharing clothes, physical spaces, hugs, and kisses will not transmit the virus. However, you may need to avoid using the same toothbrush or eating food that an HIV-positive person has chewed. Blood particles coming from any sore in their mouth may remain trapped in the toothbrush fibers and food particles.
Medications For Pregnant Mothers
If you are pregnant and need to prevent your unborn or newborn child from HIV exposure, there is an option for you. If you are infected, take your HIV medication effectively throughout your pregnancy. After birth, administer the prescribed HIV medicine to your baby for about 4-6 weeks. When you begin to breastfeed, continue to take your medication to prevent transmission. These measures reduce the risk of virus transmission to your baby to below 1%.
If you are HIV-negative but at risk of contracting HIV during pregnancy, adhere to your PrEP treatment throughout the pregnancy period. Your physician will inform you whether your child needs HIV medication after birth.
The information above protects you from exposure; if you are currently infected, it helps you know how to protect those around you. A good rule of thumb is to avoid any activities that can transmit bodily fluids like blood, semen, and breast milk. They may include sharing needles while using illegal drugs, having unprotected sex, failing to take PEP after exposure, and failing to take necessary medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
