Click on an question below to see the answer!
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Can I get HIV/AIDS through deep kissing? |
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Is it true that if you have sex with an infected person you yourself dont necessarily become infected yourself? |
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How many times can you have unsafe sex before you get infected? |
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If I touch the body of a dead person who has died of AIDS can I become infected? |
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Why has AIDS become such a major problem here in Africa and less so in Europe? |
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If I practice anal sex without a condom can I still become infected with HIV even though there is no secretion of fluids like in the vagina of a woman? |
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How does the transmission from mother to child occur? |
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Is it true that having sex with a virgin can cure you from HIV/AIDS? |
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What happens when the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters the body, and where in the body does it go? |
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What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? |
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Do all people with HIV develop AIDS and if yes, after how much time? |
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Can a healthy looking person be infected with HIV/AIDS? |
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What are the physical signs of having HIV/AIDS? |
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What behavior contributes to the proliferation of HIV/AIDS? |
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If a man withdraws his penis before ejaculating can he infect himself or the woman with HIV/AIDS? |
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Will I get HIV/AIDS if I have sex with an HIV positive person without a condom? |
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Is HIV/AIDS also transmitted through anal or oral sex? |
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Can I become infected with HIV/AIDS when having sex with very young persons? |
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What is safe sex? |
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Is it true that condom is too big to some men and too small for others? |
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Why should a condom only be used once? |
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Why do condoms sometimes burst when having sex? |
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Can male sperm pass through a condom? |
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What is the lubricant in the condom packed for and is it harmful to human any way? |
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How does it feel for a woman to have sex with or without condom? |
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If I use condoms every time I have sex can I still get sexual transmitted diseases? |
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How can I withstand the temptation to have sex without condoms? |
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Is drug abuse one of the causes of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? |
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Why are people who take drugs often very skinny? |
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What are HIV and AIDS? |
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How can we prevent AIDS from spreading? |
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What is a condom? |
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When were condoms invented? |
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How did condoms develop? |
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Is it true that all around the world people use condoms? |
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Are there places where more condoms are used than in others? |
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Is it true that condoms are too big for some men and too small for others? |
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Is there a difference in how to use a condom for circumcised men and men who are not circumcised? |
Can I get HIV/AIDS through deep kissing?
The probability of getting HIV through deep kissing is very small. By exchanging saliva during kissing alone, it is not possible to trasmit HIV.
However, if one of the partners or both have small cuts or sores in their mouth, the chances of getting infected are higher.
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Is it true that if you have sex with an infected person you yourself dont necessarily become infected yourself?
There are three possibilities that may mean you dont get infected:
- If your immune system is strong and you have no STDs or bruises or sores the risk of transmission is reduced.
- Possibility of getting infection is high when the person you sleep with has recently become infected themselves (just acquired the virus) or already have full blown AIDS
- If the infected person has a low viral load then the risk of transmission to you during intercourse is also reduced.
However, dont risk it. It is safer to use a condom to really reduce the risk of transmission during sexual intercourse rather than hoping for any of the above.
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How many times can you have unsafe sex before you get infected?
There is no number of times. You can have unsafe sex once and contract HIV, others may have unsafe sex several times and still not get infected. There is no set formula.
Nevertheless you will never know in which category you fall so it is really better not to risk. Your life is precious take care of it!
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If I touch the body of a dead person who has died of AIDS can I become infected?
If you touch the body fluids of a dead person then you can contract the virus research has shown that the HI-virus in a dead person can survive for 16 days after the person passes away. During that time if you come into contact with blood or pus or any other body fluids and you have any cuts of bruises on your own body then transmission can occur. Nevertheless, it is always better for hygienic reason to handle and wash dead bodies to wear gloves. This counts whatever the cause of death of the person and helps you to be on the safe side.
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Why has AIDS become such a major problem here in Africa and less so in Europe?
Here there are two things to bear in mind.
- The African community has not fully accepted the messages about safe sex in order to prevent the spread of HIV via unsafe sexual intercourse. In Europe the messages were accepted more readily and people quickly changed their behaviour.
- Health Services and medication to treat opportunistic infections and keep the virus in check are more accessible in Europe than in Africa
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If I practice anal sex without a condom can I still become infected with HIV even though there is no secretion of fluids like in the vagina of a woman?
YES! because the skin of the rectum is quite fragile and can easily become damaged during anal sex. HIV is found in semen and not only in vaginal fluids. It is really better to use a condom for all kinds of sex.
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How does the transmission from mother to child occur?
30% of babies born to women who are infected with HIV are born WITHOUT the infection. Nonetheless, these means that if you are infected and have a baby the risk of the baby being born with the virus is around 70%.
There are 4 stages when transmission can happen:
- When the child is still in the womb growing because the filtering system between the placenta and the baby that ensures that nutrients pass to the baby but tries to stop harmful things passing may fail to stop HIV.
- During the delivery of the baby as it passes through the birth canal the baby may become bruised and come into contact with the mothers body fluids.
- During the cutting of the umbilical cord especially if the instruments used are contaminated.
- During breastfeeding because the mothers milk carries the virus. The chances of getting infection like this increase if the mothers breast becomes sore from frequent breast feeding or it the baby has any cuts in its mouth.
In these cases it is difficult to judge the mother. The mother may have acquired HIV from having unsafe sex with a single partner who has not been faithful to her. It is important for men to either be faithful to their wives (as well as vice versa) or to use a condom if they have other partners, otherwise both parents are responsible for their babies welfare.
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Is it true that having sex with a virgin can cure you from HIV/AIDS?
No, you can not get healed from HIV/AIDS by having sex with a virgin. There is no cure for HIV infection!
In addition, if you carry a sexually transmitted disease you endanger the health and life of the virgin, if you have unprotected sexual intercourse together!
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What happens when the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters the body, and where in the body does it go?
These viruses are located in the white cells of the human body fluids, especially in blood, in seminal fluid, in the vaginal fluid and I the milk of the breast-feeding mothers. The white blood cells are the preferred place for HIV to live and reproduce. Once the viruses are inside the body, they settle and increase their numbers within the white blood cells until this blood cells burst. The viruses which are then released continue to attack other white blood cells. The more white cells burst, the more viruses are released and the number of white cell decreases. As a result, the immune system of the person becomes weaker and weaker.
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What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the abbreviation of the term Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus, which causes AIDS. AIDS, on the other hand, is the name of the disease, once its symptoms become visible.
The difference between HIV and AIDS therefore is that a person who is infected with HIV can still be a healthy looking person. Although the virus can still be found in his or her blood cells. On the other hand, the immune system of the person with AIDS has already lost its strength and as a consequence he or she suffers from different diseases. At this stage the disease AIDS has fully developed.
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Do all people with HIV develop AIDS and if yes, after how much time?
Yes, after a certain time all people infected with HIV will develop AIDS. However the time between the infection and the onset of AIDS varies among different individuals. Some live a long time without getting any symptoms of AIDS. The average life span between infection and death for adults is 10 years; while for children who are infected under the age of five is only 1 to 3 years.
There is no answer to the question how long a person with HIV can continue to live. The number of years an infected person survives depends on many things, as for example the immune system itself, the diet of the person, the number of viruses in the body, and on whether a person always treated other diseases fully and immediately whenever they occurred.
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Can a healthy looking person be infected with HIV/AIDS?
Yes, a healthy looking person can be infected with HIV. In the first phase after infection, a person has the viruses in his or her blood, but he or she does not show any signs of illness. This phase can last up to more than 10 years! This is very dangerous, because if you have sex with this healthy looking person carrying the HIV in his body, he or she can infect you.
It is not easy to identify a person with HIV/AIDS, especially when he or she is in the first phase after being infected. The only way to be completely sure about whether a person is infected with HIV or not is by conducting a blood test at the clinic. Therefore, having sex without protecting yourself with a condom can endanger your life, even if the person you have sex with looks perfectly healthy.
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What are the physical signs of having HIV/AIDS?
Once the HIV viruses have attacked the immune system of the body, which is the white blood cells, the bodys capacity to fight diseases decreases. Other diseases can attack the body easily while the body has no strength to defend itself.
People, who suffer from AIDS often loose a lot of weight, some have fevers again and again, some constantly have diarrhea, and some have wounds on their sexual organs or in their mouths. But if you get one or two of these symptoms, do not think immediately that you are infected with HIV/AIDS. There are other diseases, which show the same symptoms. If you have doubts, consult a doctor for further information.
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What behavior contributes to the proliferation of HIV/AIDS?
HIV is mainly spread through sexual contact. Below you will find some of the most common behaviour, which contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
If a person has many lovers, the probability of getting infected increases, because each lover is a potential source of infection. People also put themselves at risk, if they have unsafe sex, which is penetrative sex (vaginal or anal) without a condom.
In addition, treating other sexually transmitted disease too late contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS. If a person suffers from another sexually transmitted disease, the HIV viruses can enter this persons body easily, because if sores on the sexual organs.
Finally, the abuse of drugs and excessive drinking can weaken a persons capacity to make sound decisions about his or her sexual life.
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If a man withdraws his penis before ejaculating can he infect himself or the woman with HIV/AIDS?
Yes, even if the man withdraws his penis before ejaculating, the transmission of HIV/AIDS can occur. It is dangerous for the man, as well as for woman, because the viruses are in the vaginal fluids and the fluids of the penis. Especially, if one of the lovers has sores or small cuts on his or her sexual organs, HIV/AIDS can be transmitted easily.
Withdrawing the penis from the vagina before ejaculating is not a way of preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
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Will I get HIV/AIDS if I have sex with an HIV positive person without a condom?
If you have sex with a HIV positive person without a condom, the probability of getting infected with HIV/AIDS is very high, because sexual intercourse involves physical contacts. It is very dangerous to have sex with a person who is infected with HIV without using condom.
To-date, the condom is the very only tool available for self protection against HIV/AIDS when having sex. If the condom is used properly every time you have sex with a person who is infected with HIV, the probability of getting infected is very low. Using a condom properly means using a new condom, putting it on the penis properly and removing it before the penis loses its stiffness.
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Is HIV/AIDS also transmitted through anal or oral sex?
Yes, there is a big danger of getting infected with HIV/AIDS when having oral sex. The skin in the anus is very soft and the probability of getting small cuts during sexual intercourse is big. Also because there are no body fluids to smoothen penetration, as for example in the vagina. It is very easy for the viruses to pass through these small cuts into the body of the woman. Similarly the man can be infected, if blood from the womans body enters his body. Therefore, there is a danger of getting infected for both of them.
Oral sex is also dangerous. If a woman has small cuts or wounds in her mouth or the man has sores on his penis, they can infect each other.
People are advised not to have sexual intercourse in these ways, unless they use condoms to prevent infection with sexually transmitted diseases or even HIV/AIDS.
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Can I become infected with HIV/AIDS when having sex with very young persons?
Yes, you can get infected. The probability of getting infected does not depend on the age of your lover but it depends on his or her health. If the boy or a girl is already infected with HIV and you have sex with him or her, you can get infected.
Often you can not know whether a person is already infected with HIV or not, because in the first stage after the infection there are no visible symptoms at all.
In addition, it is a very bad behaviour to seduce young boys and girls into having sexual intercourse. For the safety and benefit of all, every one is advised not to engage in sexual relationships with young boys and girls.
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What is safe sex?
Safe sex is that kind of sex which does not involve any risk of unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, or HIV/AIDS. It includes physical contacts, which do not involve penetration of a penis in the vagina. On the other hand if it includes penetrative sex, then safety precautions are taken.
Ways of satisfying sexual desire without penetration of penis into the vagina are kissing, holding hands and masturbation. All those things are safe with regard to unplanned pregnancies, STDs and HIV infection.
If you involve penetration of the penis in the vagina during sex, it is necessary to take precautions. One possible precaution is to be faithful to your partner, but that also requires that you were both free of sexually transmitted diseases, when you first had sex. Another precaution is to use condom. Condom prevents not only pregnancies but also sexually transmitted diseases.
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Is it true that condom is too big to some men and too small for others?
There are different sizes of condoms .On average the size of condom fits almost all adult men. Very rarely the condoms are too small for certain men. Some men like to show off by pretending to have big penises but they are only making excuses for not using condoms.
For adolescents however the situation is different. Often the condoms are too big compared to sizes of their penises. In many African countries smaller than average condoms are not available. Adolescents whose penises are still too small condoms should abstain from penetrative sex and use other ways of fulfilling their sexual desires, such as hugging and kissing.
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Why should a condom only be used once?
Condoms must only be used once, because if they are used twice or thrice they will not protect well from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases any more. Condoms must not be washed and reused. They must be thrown into a pit latrine or burnt after use. Condoms are made to be used once only.
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Why do condoms sometimes burst when having sex?
Condoms do burst sometimes, if they are not placed well on the penis. It is most important to squeeze the tip of the condom when putting it on the penis, the air inside the condom can make the condom burst when having sex.
In addition, you must not apply lubricants such as Vaseline in order to smoothen the penetration. Lubricants such as Vaseline can endanger the durability of the condom and they may lead to the condom bursting. The lubricant which is in the packet of the condom as you buy it assures the durability of the condom and is different from other types of Lubricants.
It is most important to remember that if a condom is used properly, the chance of it bursting is very small.
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Can male sperm pass through a condom?
No, sperm can not pass through the condom. Condoms are produced in order to prevent sperm from reaching the vagina the vagina when having sexual intercourse. Because seminal fluids can not pass through condom, condoms are good ways of avoiding pregnancy, as well as sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.
Some people say that there are small holes in the condoms which sperms and microorganisms causing sexual transmitted diseases can pass through. But this is a lie. If you want to be sure that a new condom has no hole, take one and fill it with normal water. You can find that water can not pass through the condom at all. After doing this throw the condom in a pit latrine or burn it. Dont use it for sexual intercourse!
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What is the lubricant in the condom packed for and is it harmful to human any way?
The lubricant in the condom is a special type of lubricant and it is there to protect the condom until the day it is used. Without using this lubricant the durability of the condom would not be guaranteed, because the condom would dry out and loose its elasticity. This lubricant does not harm at all to most people. Very few people whose skin is very sensitive, have an itchy feeling after using a condom, but this is not a serious problem. Such people are advised to gently wash their sexual parts with mild soap after having sexual intercourse.
There is a rumor that the lubricant on condom contains HIV. This is not true, so the lubricant is there to only to guarantee the durability of the condom.
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How does it feel for a woman to have sex with or without condom?
We can not say on how it feels for a woman to have sex with or without condoms.Each person has his or her preferences.But the most crucial issue with regard to sex is the emotional parts, mutual understanding between the lovers and the level of mutual excitement.
Some women prefer having sex if a man uses a condom; because there is no fear of getting pregnancy or being infected with a sexual transmitted deseases.Other women prefer having sex without condoms. However, from getting pregnant, nowadays there is danger of sexual transmitted diseases or even HIVAIDS when having sex without condom. Therefore, it is safer not to trust any one, until both of you have done medical tests and have been proved to be healthy.
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If I use condoms every time I have sex can I still get sexual transmitted diseases?
The bacteria and viruses of sexual transmitted diseases are in the seminal fluid. So if you use a condom every time you have sex, you can avoid being infected with sexual transmitted diseases, because seminal fluid can not pass through a condom. If you use condoms properly, you are safe from being infected.
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How can I withstand the temptation to have sex without condoms?
Sometime it is not easy to withstand the temptation to have sex without condoms because of pressure from your lover. But remember that it is often not easy to recognize whether someone has a sexual transmitted diseases and therefore you can not easily make sure that your lover does not have any sexual transmitted diseases or even HIV/AIDS.
You can not know how many people your lover had already had sex with in her or his life, and your lover can not know if you already had sex with someone else. Each time you are having sex involves the possibility of getting a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore discuss with your lover and agree with him or her about the necessity of using condoms when having sex, in order to get protected both of you. If your partner tells you that she does not have any such diseases, tell him or her that there is no such certainty of not being infected with HIV/AIDS until you both undergo blood test. If one of you has not had test yet there is a chance of carrying the virus. Do not agree to not use a condom because you can endanger your life.
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Is drug abuse one of the causes of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Drug abuse is not in itself a cause of HIV /AIDS or other STDs, but drug-abusing people easily get and spread these diseases. Drug abuse weakens the body and immune system of a drug abuser more easily.
Drugs make people to forget about the dangers of having many different sexual partners and having sex with persons whose health status they do not know. They forget to protect themselves and their partners by using a condom and forget about their responsibilities towards their wives and children.
When drugs are injected and needled or injecting equipment is shared, there is a high risk of getting infected or spreading HIV / AIDS. This is also the case, when drugs abusers sell their bodies in sexual activities for drugs or for money to get drugs.
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Why are people who take drugs often very skinny?
Drugs irritate the normal functioning of the body, especially the stomach and intestines. Therefore drug abusing people can absorb fewer nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, from food into the blood. This is what makes them skinny. It weakens their immune system and thus puts them at higher risk to contact diseases including HIV/AIDS.
Furthermore, people abusing drugs tend to lose interest in food and proper care for their bodies but concentrate all their energy on having a steady supply of drugs.
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What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV is a virus. It can cause AIDS. It is dangerous because there is no cure for it.
When the HIV virus is in the body it attacks the immune system. Our immune system is very important because it protects our bodies by fighting off germs and infections.
If the immune system is weak, the body can no longer fight sickness. That is why many people with AIDS cant fight sicknesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia and TB.
When these sicknesses attack their bodies they die.
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How can we prevent AIDS from spreading?
The answer is so simple!
ONE: Not to have sex at all.
TWO: If you do have sex, use a condom
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What is a condom?
A condom is a sheath made of latex or plastic, used during sexual intercourse. It s put on a man’s erect pens and it catches semen when a man ejaculates (‘comes’). The condom s used as a contraceptive as well as to prevent transmission of infections including HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), because it prevents expo¬sure of the vagina to the men’s fluids and exposure of the pens to the woman’s fluids. Condoms are engineered to be placed easily onto the penis
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When were condoms invented?
The first condoms were used several thousand years ago. The earliest evidence goes back to the Egyptians. Around 3000 years ago they used a linen sheath for protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Scenes from cave paintings at Combarelles in France, dating from more than 2000 years ago, show that condoms were being used in the area. It s believed that condoms were also used in imperial Rome. The penis sheaths used n former times were made out of unusual materials such as oil silk, paper, fish bladders or tortoise shells. Later, condoms made from linen were ti ed on ribbons.
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How did condoms develop?
The development of the condom has a long history. According to recorded sources of information, the history of condom is as follows:
People around the world developed condoms using different material such as dried animal intestines, silk, fish bladder or tortoise shells. Later, linen was used. In the 15th century, a syphilis epidemic spread across Europe and the Italian Gabrielle Fallopius promoted the condom to protect men against the disease. He said he conducted trials among 1,100 men using the condom and none became infected with syphilis. The condoms of that time were made from dried animal intestines.
Later, the usefulness of condoms for prevention of pregnancy was recognized and condoms were improved by soaking them in chemicals and allowed to dry prior to use. These were the first spermicidal condoms.
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Is it true that all around the world people use condoms?
There are millions of people around the world using condoms. An estimated 6 to 9 billion condoms are distributed every year (9.000.000.000!). People of all age groups, married or unmarried people, use condoms. Basically the use of condom has two major reasons: to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to prevent sexually transmitted infections and increasingly to protect oneself and others from HIV/AIDS infection. Worldwide an estimated 44 million married couples use condoms for family planning.
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Are there places where more condoms are used than in others?
Worldwide, condom use differs a lot from region to region and from one country to the other. Worldwide, around 5 % of married women of reproductive age say they are using condoms. In Botswana 11% of all couples use condoms for family planning, in South Korea 15% and in Singapore 22%. In Tanzania only 2.7% of married couples use them. The level of condom use by partners outside marriage is much higher. For example, in Latvia over two-thirds of partners use condoms, in Mexico 63% and in Paraguay 79%. Two thirds of German youth use condoms the first time they have sex. In Tanzania, only 22% of young people reported to have used condoms during first sex.
Japan has the highest level of condom use, with one-fifth of condom users worldwide. Japanese have a long history of condom use. Nowadays, the condom enjoys a high social acceptance in Japan and there is little stigma attached to it. Almost half of all couples use condoms, and 78% of family planning users choose condoms as their favourite family planning method.
In the Netherlands, young people receive wide-ranging information and education on sexuality and relationships. As a result, in 2000, 68% of sexually active youth systematically used condoms, while 27% systematically used condoms and pills. 36% of Germans using contraceptives rely on the condom.
The use of condoms for HIV-prevention depends very much on political commitment, and provision of information that affect behaviour change. For example, in 1990, HIV/AIDS became a national priority in Thailand. The Ministry of Health launched a huge information campaign promoting condoms. Condom use through the “100% condom programme” was made mandatory for commercial sex workers and their clients. The programme had strong political commitment from the government, health workers, NGOs, the media, brothel owners and the public. As a result condom use in brothels rose from 14% in 1988 to 95% in 1995, and HIV infections are estimated to have decreased by more than 80% in 2002.
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Is it true that condoms are too big for some men and too small for others?
Condoms usually fit all men, as they are made of very flexible materials and adapt to the penis size. Nevertheless, there are different sizes of condoms. On average, the size of the condoms fits almost all adult men and mature adolescents, Very rarely, condoms are too small or too big for certain men.
Adolescents whose penis is still too small for using condoms should abstain from penetrative sex and use other ways of expressing their sexual feelings, such as hugging and kissing.
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Is there a difference in how to use a condom for circumcised men and men who are not circumcised?
There is no major difference on how circumcised and uncircumcised men use condoms. The only thing is that, uncircumcised men are advised to pull back the foreskin before rolling on the condom on the penis. The condom reduces the movement of the foreskin during the intercourse, and some uncircumcised men feel that this reduces their pleasure during
sex. On the other hand, some men like the fact that the condom can increase the duration the penis remains erect.
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Questions and Answers
