STD Facts: Sexually transmitted diseases affect more than 12 million Americans each year, many of whom are teenagers or young adults. Teenagers and young adults are the fastest growing . Using drugs and alcohol increases your chances of getting STDs because these substances can interfere with your judgment and your ability to use condoms properly. The more partners you have, the higher your chance of being exposed to HIV or other STDs. This is because it is difficult to know whether a person is infected. You cannot tell by looking at someone whether he or she is infected with HIV or another STD.
The number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is again on the rise. Teens and young adults have the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea. STDs can increase the risk of getting or spreading HIV infections. AND IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, HIV REMAINS INCURABLE!
SAFER SEX IS THE MAIN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM. CONDOMS DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE RISK... SO USE CONDOMS!
You don't have to be a genius to figure out that the only sure way to avoid getting STDs is to not have sex. But today, it's smart to also know ways to lower the risk of getting STDs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, the best way to ruin your life, your partner's life and the life of an innocent baby is to have an unwanted pregnancy. All your dreams and goals for your future are put on hold and may never be realized... just because you did not use protection... Condoms. Ignorance is never bliss!
STDs can cause:
* Death, especially with HIV infection
* Damage to major organs, such as the heart, kidney and brain
* Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage a woman's fallopian tubes and result in pelvic pain and sterility
* Tubal pregnancies (where the fetus grows in the fallopian tube instead of the womb), sometimes fatal to the mother and always fatal to the fetus
* Cancer of the cervix in women
* Sterility -- the inability to have children -- in both men and women
See a doctor if you have any of these STD symptoms:
* Discharge from vagina, penis or rectum
* Pain or burning during urination or intercourse
* Pain in the abdomen (women), testicles (men), or buttocks and legs (both)
* Blisters, open sores, warts, rash, or swelling in the genitals, anal areas or mouth
* Persistent flu-like symptoms -- including fever, headache, aching muscles, or swollen glands -- which may precede STD symptoms
Infection with HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, is spreading among teenagers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because it can be many years from the time a person becomes infected to when the person develops symptoms and is diagnosed with HIV infection, many people diagnosed in their 20s likely contracted HIV in their teens. There is only one form of birth control currently on the market -- latex condoms -- that is highly effective in reducing the transmission (spread) of HIV and many other STDs. People who use other kinds of birth control, such as the pill, diaphragm, Norplant, Depo-Provera, cervical cap, or IUD, also need to use CONDOMS to help prevent STDs.
Latex condoms work against STDs by keeping blood, a man's semen, and a woman's vaginal fluids - all of which can carry bacteria and viruses - from passing from one person to another. For many years, scientists have known that condoms can help prevent STDs transmitted by bacteria, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, because the bacteria can't get through the condom. More recently, researchers discovered that latex condoms can also reduce the risk of getting STDs caused by viruses, such as HIV, herpes, and hepatitis B.
ALERT! New Research concerning nonoxynol-9
Recently, the United Nations sponsored research that has shown the spermicide, nonoxynol-9 actually increased the risks of HIV infections by irritating membranes in the vagina and rectum, opening a path for infection. Regular use of products containing N-9 may increase the risk of HIV transmission. Since the mid-1980s, many lube and condom manufacturers were promoting N-9 as a possible microbicide against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, when it was found to have some "limited effect" in killing HIV and other viruses and bacteria in test tubes and lab animals.
It was not developed with the intent to kill HIV or any other virus or bacteria and has never been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this purpose.
Although N-9 did have a limited ability to kill HIV in the laboratory, in human studies N-9 was found to strip away the outer layer of skin inside the vagina and the rectum. HIV that wasn't killed entered the bloodstream more easily, thereby increasing the risk of HIV transmission by as much as 50 percent when compared to using a water-based lubricant without N-9. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised against the use of N-9 as a microbicide. Since the CDC has indicated that nonoxynol-9 for HIV prevention may be harmful, Condom Hall will NOT be stocking any spermicidal products. We feel that your safety is on the line and want to provide only the best and most effective product available. It is our advice to discard any spermicide products and purchase new latex rubbers without spermicide. We will keep you informed!
Update on Nonoxynol-9 - In the past, public health experts recommended using condoms combined with Nonoxynol-9 (N-9), a spermicide, for increased protection against pregnancy, HIV, and STDs. Two recent studies, however, call into question the effectiveness and safety of N-9.
A study published by UNAIDS found that N-9 used without condoms was ineffective against HIV transmission. This study actually showed some evidence that N-9 increased the risk of HIV-infection.
Researchers note that this study was conducted among commercial sex workers in Africa who are at increased risk and used a N-9 gel on a frequent basis. The adverse affects might not be seen at the same level among women who are using N-9 less frequently or in a different formulation.
As a result of this study, however, the CDC concluded that "given that N-9 has been proven ineffective against HIV transmission, the possibility of risk, with no benefit, indicates that N-9 should not be recommended as an effective means of HIV-prevention."1
A similar study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that N-9, when used with condoms, did not protect women from the bacteria that causes gonorrhea and chlamydial infection any better than condoms used alone. 2
References
1. Letter to Colleagues from Helene D. Gayle, M.D., M.P.H., director, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 4, 2000.
* For your protection, Condom Hall Does Not sell condoms with N-9
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON HIV and AIDS
What is AIDS? What causes AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
An HIV-positive person receives an AIDS diagnosis after developing one of the CDC-defined AIDS indicator illnesses. An HIV-positive person can also receive an AIDS diagnosis on the basis of certain blood tests (CD4 counts) and may not have experienced any serious illnesses. A positive HIV test does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician according to the CDC AIDS Case Definition.
Over time, infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can weaken the immune system to the point that the system has difficulty fighting off certain infections. These types of infections are known as opportunistic infections. Many of the infections that cause problems or that can be life-threatening for people with AIDS are usually controlled by a healthy immune system. The immune system of a person with AIDS has weakened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
H - Human: because this virus can only infect human beings.
I - Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body's immune system.
V - Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.
A - Acquired: because it's a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes
I - Immune: because it affects the body's immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses
D - Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly)
S - Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?
Currently, the average time between HIV infection and the appearance of signs that could lead to an AIDS diagnosis is 8-11 years. This time varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors including a person's health status and behaviors. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative health care. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
What's the connection between HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?
Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person's risk of becoming infected with HIV, whether or not that STD causes lesions or breaks in the skin. If the STD infection causes irritation of the skin, breaks or sores may make it easier for HIV to enter the body during sexual contact. Even an STD that causes no breaks or sores can stimulate an immune response in the genital area that can make HIV transmission more likely. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
Where did HIV come from?
The most recent presentation on the origin of HIV was presented at the 6th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunitistic Infections (Chicago, January 1999). At that conference, research was presented that suggested that HIV had "crossed over" into the human population from a particular species of chimpanzee, probably through blood contact that occurred during hunting and field dressing of the animals. The CDC states that the findings presented at this conference provide the strongest evidence to date that HIV-1 originated in non-human primates. The research findings were featured in the February 4,1999 issue of the journal, Nature.
We know that the virus has existed in the United States, Haiti and Africa since at least 1977-1978. In 1979, rare types of pneumonia, cancer and other illnesses were being reported by doctors in Los Angeles and New York. The common thread was that these conditions were not usually found in persons with healthy immune systems.
In 1982 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially named the condition AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In 1984 the virus responsible for weakening the immune system was identified as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
How can I tell if I'm infected with HIV?
The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You can't rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected with HIV. Many people who are infected with HIV don't have any symptoms at all for many years.
Similarly, you can't rely on symptoms to establish that a person has AIDS. The symptoms associated with AIDS are similar to the symptoms of many other diseases. AIDS is a diagnosis made by a doctor based on specific criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
What are the Symptoms of HIV?
Primary HIV infection is the first stage of HIV disease, when the virus first establishes itself in the body. Some researchers use the term acute HIV infection to describe the period of time between when a person is first infected with HIV and when antibodies against the virus are produced by the body (usually 6- 12 weeks).
Some people newly infected with HIV will experience some "flu-like" symptoms. These symptoms, which usually last no more than a few days, might include fevers, chills, night sweats and rashes (not cold-like symptoms). Other people either do not experience "acute infection," or have symptoms so mild that they may not notice them.
Given the general character of the symptoms of acute infection, they can easily have causes other than HIV, such as a flu infection. For example, if you had some risk for HIV a few days ago and are now experiencing flu-like symptoms, it might be possible that HIV is responsible for the symptoms, but it is also possible that you have some other viral infection. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
What are the Symptoms of AIDS?
There are no common symptoms for individuals diagnosed with AIDS. When immune system damage is more severe, people may experience opportunistic infections (called opportunistic because they are caused by organisms which cannot induce disease in people with normal immune systems, but take the "opportunity" to flourish in people with HIV). Most of these more severe infections, diseases and symptoms fall under the Centers for Disease Control's definition of full-blown "AIDS." The median time to receive an AIDS diagnosis among those infected with HIV is 7-10 years. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
How is HIV Transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through:
Blood (including menstrual blood), Semen, Vaginal secretions, Breast milk
Blood contains the highest concentration of the virus, followed by semen, followed by vaginal fluids, followed by breast milk.
Activities That Allow HIV Transmission:
Unprotected sexual contact
Direct blood contact, including injection drug needles, blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products
Mother to baby (before or during birth, or through breast milk)
Sexual intercourse (vaginal and anal): In the genitals and the rectum, HIV may infect the mucous membranes directly or enter through cuts and sores caused during intercourse (many of which would be unnoticed). Vaginal and anal intercourse is a high-risk practice.
Oral sex (mouth-penis, mouth-vagina): The mouth is an inhospitable environment for HIV (in semen, vaginal fluid or blood), meaning the risk of HIV transmission through the throat, gums, and oral membranes is lower than through vaginal or anal membranes. There are however, documented cases where HIV was transmitted orally, so we can't say that getting HIV-infected semen, vaginal fluid or blood in the mouth is without risk. However, oral sex is considered a low risk practice.
Sharing injection needles: An injection needle can pass blood directly from one person's bloodstream to another. It is a very efficient way to transmit a blood-borne virus. Sharing needles is considered a high-risk practice.
Mother to Child: It is possible for an HIV-infected mother to pass the virus directly before or during birth, or through breast milk. Breast milk contains HIV, and while small amounts of breast milk do not pose significant threat of infection to adults, it is a viable means of transmission to infants.
The following "bodily fluids" are NOT infectious:
Saliva
Tears
Sweat
Feces
Urine
(Source: San Francisco AIDS Foundation)
Can I get HIV from oral sex?
There is considerable debate within the HIV/AIDS prevention community regarding the risk of transmission of HIV through oral sex. What is currently known is that there is some risk associated with performing oral sex without protection; (there have been a few documented cases of HIV transmission through oral sex). While no one knows exactly what that risk is, cumulative evidence indicates that the risk is less than that of unprotected anal or vaginal sex. The risk from receiving oral sex, for both a man and a woman, is considered to be very low.
Currently, risk reduction options when performing oral sex on a man (fellatio) include the use of latex condoms, but also include withdrawal before ejaculation without a condom (avoiding semen in the mouth) and/or refraining from this activity when cuts or sores are present in the mouth.
When performing oral sex on a woman (cunnilingus), moisture barriers such as a dam (sheet of latex), a cut-open and flattened condom, or household plastic wrap can reduce the risk of exposure to vaginal secretions and/or blood.
If you have other questions about oral sex and HIV, call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432 (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
Can I get HIV from kissing?
Casual contact through closed-mouth or "social" kissing is not a risk for transmission of HIV. Because of the potential for contact with blood during "French" or open-mouth, wet kissing, CDC recommends against engaging in this activity with a person known to be infected. However, the risk of acquiring HIV during open-mouth kissing is believed to be very low. CDC has investigated only one case of HIV infection that may be attributed to contact with blood during open-mouth kissing. In this case both partners had extensive dental problems including gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). It is likely that there was blood present in both partners' mouths making direct blood to blood contact a possibility. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
Can I get HIV from casual contact (shaking hands, hugging, using a toilet, drinking from the same glass, or the sneezing and coughing of an infected person)?
No. HIV is not transmitted by day to day contact in the home, the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets.
HIV is a fragile virus that does not live long outside the body. HIV is not an airborne or food borne virus. HIV is present in the blood, semen or vaginal secretions of an infected person and can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex or through sharing injection drug needles. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
Can a woman give HIV to a man during vaginal intercourse?
Yes. If the woman is infected, HIV is present in vaginal and cervical secretions (the wetness in a woman's vagina) and can enter the penis through the urethra (the hole at the tip) or through cuts or abrasions on the skin of the penis. The presence of other STDs can increase the risk of transmission. The correct and consistent use of a latex condom or female condom can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV during vaginal intercourse. For more information, call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432 (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
How effective are latex condoms in preventing HIV?
Several studies have demonstrated that latex condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently. These studies looked at uninfected people considered to be at very high risk of infection because they were involved in sexual relationships with HIV-infected persons. The studies found that even with repeated sexual contact, 98-100% of those people who used latex condoms consistently and correctly remained uninfected. For more on these studies, including free written information, call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432 (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
What if I test HIV positive?
If you test positive, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment, a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. It is important to know that a positive HIV test should always be confirmed, to be sure that it is a true positive. If your test result is positive, there are a number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your health:
See a doctor, even if you don't feel sick. Try to find a doctor who has experience treating HIV. There are now many new drugs to treat HIV infection. There are important tests, immunizations and drug treatments that can help you maintain good health. It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities.
Have a tuberculosis (TB) test done. You may be infected with TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness. TB can be treated successfully if detected early.
Recreational drugs, alcoholic beverages and smoking can weaken your immune system. There are programs available to help you stop.
Consider joining a support group for people with HIV infection or finding out about other resources available in your area, such as HIV/AIDS-knowledgeable counselors for one on one therapy. There are also many newsletters available for people living with HIV and AIDS.
There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learning as much as you can is a step in the right direction. Local and/or national resources may be available. Many HIV/AIDS organizations provide services free or on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay.
Call the CDC National AIDS Hotline for more information and referrals at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432, (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
When do you know for sure that you are not infected with HIV?
The tests commonly used to determine HIV infection actually look for antibodies produced by the body to fight HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people will develop detectable antibodies within 3 months after infection. In rare cases, it can take up to six months. Therefore, the CDC recommends testing at 6 months after the last possible exposure. (unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or sharing injecting drug needles). It would be extremely rare to take longer than six months to develop detectable antibodies. It is important, during the six months between exposure and the 6-month test, to protect yourself and others from further exposures to HIV. The CDC National AIDS Hotline can provide more information and referrals to testing sites in your area. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432 (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY). (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
If I test HIV negative does that mean that my partner is HIV negative also?
No. Your HIV test result reveals only your HIV status. Your negative test result does not tell you about the HIV status of your partner(s). HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time there is an exposure.
No one's test result can be used to determine another person's HIV status. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC)
I still have more questions. Can I talk to someone?
You most certainly can! You can call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at (800) 342-2437 anytime, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. They are there to help you with your questions, to provide you with further information, and to listen. Additionally, most states also provide their own state AIDS hotlines - although their hours of operation may vary. Click here for our listing of available state AIDS hotlines. (Source: AIDS.ORG)
Latex condoms are the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and to protect against STDs and HIV. Plus, they have no side effects and can make safe sex very enjoyable. Nothing is more reliable or offers protection like latex condoms. Because you have so much going for you and your future is just beginning, don't complicate your life with an unplanned pregnancy or diseases that will last the rest of your life.
When you are in a relationship (especially if you do not know how long it will last...a week, a month or longer?), the last thing you want to do is blow it by not wearing condoms. And that goes double for those out for a one night stand or just some fun! It is the only way to really have safer sex and you know what... it can be romantic, sexy and even enhance your experience.
Safer sex is all about caring for your partner and for yourself. So, please protect yourself and your partner and use condoms. It is really the only way to enjoy sex and stay safe.
It seems you can't turn on a television program or watch a movie anymore without encountering the requisite casual sex scene: a couple colliding in a passionate embrace, clothes and inhibitions cast aside as they fall - if not in love - at least to the floor. As the scene unfolds, there is no mention of safe sex, condoms or HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
But in real life, if you want to protect yourself from STDs and you're sexually active, you have to ignore the glamorized on-screen image of sex and educate yourself on safe sex practices. Considering all that condoms can protect against - HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis B, and genital herpes (to name a few), it is worth it to protect yourself. PLEASE USE CONDOMS
Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) -- new studies provide additional evidence that condoms work.
Condom Tip: Using oil-based lubricants can weaken latex, causing condoms to break. In addition, condoms can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age, or they can be torn by teeth or fingernails.
