HIV / AIDS

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.  It's an incurable virus that attacks and weakens a person's immune system. A person infected with HIV is said to be HIV-positive. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a syndrome that is diagnosed when a person's immune system has been weakened by HIV.  This is when an infected person becomes seriously sick.

• How do you get/give it?
  HIV can be spread by:
  
  
  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person
  • By sharing needles and/or drug preparation equipment with someone who is infected including needles for tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture.
  • Contact with infected blood or body fluids.  Body fluids include fluids from the vagina, semen and breast milk.
  • Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during delivery.
• How do you get tested?
  Testing for HIV means checking your blood for HIV antibodies (fighter cells) to see if you have ever been in contact with HIV. 
• Does it go away?
  No, once a person is HIV positive, they will have the infection for the rest of their life.  There are medications that HIV positive people take to help keep them healthy and their immune system strong.
• How do I NOT get HIV?
  There are lots ways!  Choosing NOT to have sex, or by reducing your risk by using condoms every time you do! Never sharing needles or drug preparation equipment

  ALSO… you

  CAN’T

  get HIV from casual kissing, hugging, playing sports with or being a friend with someone who is HIV positive.
  Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has

  NEVER

  been shown to result in transmission of HIV.

• Where can you get tested?
  At your doctor's/healthcare professional's office, or at the sexual health clinics at the Northwestern Health Unit.