This Important Way of Transmitting HIV is Known

Many myths are wrong with HIV transmission, so people living with HIV are shunned not for the right reasons. Transmission of HIV is not through saliva, sweat, touch, kissing, mosquito bites or toilet marks. Transmission of HIV mainly comes from contact with bodily fluids such as blood and sperm through sexual behavior and the use of syringes. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a virus that attacks the immune system. HIV can be fatal if left untreated and can be transmitted under certain circumstances. That is why it is important to know correctly how to transmit HIV, so that you can avoid the disease.

Recognize the Various Ways of Transmitting HIV

Basically, HIV can be transmitted through bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk that is infected with HIV. Anyone of any age, race, or sex can be infected with HIV, including babies born to HIV-infected mothers. Some methods of HIV transmission that can occur are as follows:

• Sex

Sexual transmission can occur from male to female or vice versa, as well as in the same sex through risky sexual relations. Transmission of HIV can occur during vaginal, anal or oral sex with an HIV-infected partner. One of the best ways to prevent HIV transmission is to use a condom during sex and not change sexual partners.

• The use of syringes

HIV can be transmitted through syringes that are contaminated with infected blood. Sharing syringes or using used needles gives a person a very high risk of contracting diseases, including HIV.

• During pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding

A mother who is infected with HIV and is pregnant or breastfeeding is at high risk of transmitting HIV to her baby. It is important to consult with a doctor so that HIV testing and treatment can be done during pregnancy, in order to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to infants.

• Blood transfusion

In some cases, HIV transmission can also be caused by blood transfusions. However, these events are becoming increasingly rare because donor donor eligibility tests are now being implemented, including blood donors, organs or body tissue donors. With proper testing, blood donor recipients have a low risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Important Information to Prevent HIV Transmission

Until now there is no drug or vaccine to prevent and cure HIV / AIDS infection. For those of you who suffer from HIV infection, there are efforts that can be done to control the infection, which is taking antiretroviral drugs according to the doctor's recommended dosage. The drug will help suppress viral activity in the body, a week a person with HIV can live healthier with a longer life expectancy and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to a partner. No less important is preventing HIV transmission from the start. Prevention can be done in several ways, including:

• Use a condom every time you have sex

If you don't know your partner's HIV status, use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. For women, can use a female condom.

• Avoid risky sexual behavior

Anal sex is sex activity that has the highest risk of HIV transmission. Both anal sex offenders and recipients are at risk for contracting HIV, but anal sex recipients have a higher risk of contracting it. Therefore it is recommended to have safe sex, and use condoms to prevent HIV transmission.

• Avoid using used needles

Avoid using used needles when injecting drugs. Transmission of HIV through tattoos and piercings also runs the risk of using tattoo needles that are not properly sterilized or using contaminated tattoo ink. Before doing a tattoo or piercing, make sure the needle is sterile.

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP is an HIV prevention method by taking antiretrovirals for those who are at high risk of contracting HIV, ie those who have more than one sexual partner, have a partner with HIV positive, use needles and syringes at risk in the past 6 months, or those who have frequent sexual relations without safety.

Incorrect understanding and stigma about HIV transmission is one of the obstacles in tackling this disease. To get more information and early HIV-related testing, you can consult a doctor through VCT.