DID YOU KNOW: That by October 1998 - 5,388 women were known to be infected with HIV and 1,818 had developed AIDS in the UK. 75% of women afflicted were infected through sex with a man compared with 25% infected through intravenous injections.

So what exactly is HIV and AIDS?
HIV is a virus and like other viruses, it multiplies itself inside the cells it infects. In a person infected with HIV, over 10 billion new viruses can be produced each day. HIV attacks white blood cells called CD4 cells. CD4 cells are the key infection fighting cells in our bodies. As a result, the person's immune system is weakened and s/he is vulnerable to infections and cancers. When these infections or cancers occur or when the CD4 cell count drops below 200, a person is said to have AIDS.

How does a person become infected with HIV?
In order to become infected with HIV, an individual must get the virus into their bloodstream. The body fluids that can contain enough virus to infect a person are: blood; semen; vaginal fluids; menstrual fluids and breast milk.

A woman can become infected via:

  Unprotected penetrative sex (vaginal or anal) with a man who has HIV
  Contaminated intravenous needles
  Blood transfusion with infected blood*
*(now UK blood supplies are screened so this no longer occurs or is an extreme rarity)
  Donated sperm from a man who has HIV

FACT: A woman having vaginal sex with a man with HIV is two or three times more likely to become infected than a man would be in having vaginal sex with a woman with HIV. HIV is more readily transmitted from men to women due to the greater exposed surface area in the female genital tract.

Sexual contact is not the only means of transmission. In many countries where the blood supply is not monitored or where medical facilities are of a low standard, people become infected through procedures that would otherwise be safe in an advanced country. Doctors working in the third world attribute some of the rapid spread (of not just HIV but other infectious illnesses) to "needle abuse", the repeat use of unclean needles in medical procedures with many patients. Areas with large concentrations of intravenous drug users have also seen a disproportionate number of cases.

How do I avoid getting infected?
Other than becoming celibate, the most important tool in preventing infection is safer sex. In addition, information on intravenous drug use is also important as HIV is present in blood.

Why is safe sex so important?
Safer sex is important not only in preventing HIV infection but to prevent other sexually transmitted diseases as well. The presence of other STDs make people more vulnerable to HIV infection.

Will condoms protect me 100%?
In a word - NO.

Although an extremely important item in the armoury of safer sex, condoms DO NOT guarantee complete safety (only abstinence can guarantee this). Different types of activity may require different condoms (for example, extra strong for anal sex).

Condoms are available free from family planning clinics, genito-urinary medicine clinics (GUM or STD clinics) and some GPs.

NOTE: Use only water-based lubricant with condoms.
Oil-based lubricants - and most petroleum products - can disintegrate latex condoms.

Make sure that condoms have the British kitemark standard number B.S. 3704 or the European CE mark.

Condoms have often been accused of unreliability. However, most condom failures have resulted from human error (insufficient lubricant or incorrect use). It is therefore, important to follow the instructions carefully.

Spermicides containing nonoxynol 9 may kill the virus in certain conditions but with repeated use, nonoxynol 9 can irritate vaginal wall in some women.

Is oral sex safe?
The risk of infection through oral sex is believed to be low but dental dams and/or condoms are recommended for increased safety.

Oral sex with a man - fellatio - with HIV can present a small risk if he ejaculates in your mouth and you have cuts or sores in your mouth.

Oral sex with a woman - cunnilingus - is considered low risk. There are no confirmed reports of infection via this route.

Receiving oral sex from a man or woman with HIV is considered very low risk as there is insufficient quantities of HIV virus in saliva.

Anal-oral contact is considered relatively safe from HIV transmission. However, this activity can transmit other infections. A person suffering from HIV/AIDS may risk serious illness in this manner.

What about other sexual activities?
If contact with highly infective bodily fluids is avoided, any activity is relatively safe.

Sex toys - Avoid sharing or wash thoroughly between different users.

SM (sadomasochism) - Practice caution with broken skin and blood.

Masturbation - Solo is extremely safe. Mutual masturbation is quite safe.

Can I pass on HIV to my baby?
Yes.

FACT: Approximately 90% of young children with HIV were infected from their mothers. The chance of a woman transmitting HIV to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth is one in seven. It is believed that caesarean deliveries reduce the risk to some extent. Breastfeeding increases the risk as the virus is found in breast milk.

Testing
Early diagnosis is important for women in order to seek the best possible options for treatment and to make informed reproductive choices. All women who feel they have been in risk situations should consider HIV testing.

REMEMBER: You are in charge of your own body - handle it with care!!!

USEFUL LINKS

National AIDS Trust

The Terrence Higgins Trust
52-54 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8JU

Tel: 020-7831 0330 (admin)
020-7242 1010 (Helpline)
020-7405 2381 (Legal line)
info@tht.org.uk

AIDS Helpline Northern Ireland
Centre at the Warehouse
7 James Street South,
Belfast BT2 8DN

Tel: 028-9024 9268 (admin)
Helpline: 0800 137 437

Positively Women
Counselling and support for women with HIV and AIDS.
347-349 City Road
London EC1V 1LR

Tel: 020-7713 0444 (admin)
020-7713 0222 (helpline)