AIDs & HIV Information

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General Testing & Treatment Safer Sex

What is AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome and is caused by the Human Immuno Virus (HIV). This virus is transmitted primarily by the exchange of blood or semen. Once in the blood stream, the virus starts to reproduce via our immune system. Our body's immune system looks for chemical markers on the surface of proteins to determine if ti is foreign material that needs to be attacked. HIV uses that against us. The markers on its surface attract the attention of the immune system. Once the cells of our immune system are attached to the virus, the virus injects its RNA (similar to DNA) into the cell and starts to reproduce. The new viruses break out of the cell when they're mature, killing it and the cycle starts over.

Over time, there are so many viruses that they kill the immune cells faster then your body can replace them, causing the immune deficiency. At that point you officially have AIDS. Because the body's defenses are so weak, people with AIDS get sick very easily and have a hard time getting better. Often it is these other illnesses that outright kill those who have AIDS.

Who Can Get it?

Everyone can get AIDS. In the US, it is often viewed as a "GAY" disease, but the new statistics show that the infection rate is increasing fastest in the straight minority communities. Though the disease tends to center around larger cities, it has slowly worked its way into the country side.

Risky Behavior
High Risk: Unprotected Penetrative Sex, IV Drug Use, Swallowing Cum or Blood, Any Sex with a Prostitute
Medium Risk: Rimming, Letting Someone Cum in Your mouth (without swallowing) Lower Risk: All other protected & unprotected forms of sex

Warning:
Having Sex abroad can be very dangerous! Many countries in Africa, Asia, & South/Central America have much higher rates of infection! Additionally, if you do have sex overseas (as well as in the US) made sure that you can contact all of your partners (and they can contact you) incase one of you tests positive for the disease!

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Detection & Treatment

The tests do not directly test for the virus, but rather for the body's reaction to the virus. It takes time for the body to develop a strong enough reaction for scientists to be able to detect, but detection is easier and faster then ever. Depending on the person, it takes between 4 and 6 weeks after exposure for your body to develop a strong enough reaction to determine if you have the virus or not.

Testing
After the 6 weeks, you should go have an HIV test. There are many different tests used, the newer of which don't require blood. Many places offer the testing for free. Some places require that you go through a short AIDS awareness training/counseling session before you get your results, but all of them require that you come back in to get the results. That way, those who test positive will have counseling available for them immediately. Realize that there is a week turn around time for the test. They can not give you the results immediately after testing

Warning, do not take the test unless it is anonymous!! Even confidential records can be leaked. Though it is now illegal for employers to discriminate against AIDS victims, it is not worth the risk! Additionally, some Life & Health Insurance Companies will drop you if they find out you are possitive! For safe testing, contact LAAN at 517-651-4534 for on the spot testing.

Treatment
Depending on the person and the exact strain of HIV that they are infected by, with the old treatments, the virus took anywhere from 3 to 10 years to kill after a person was infected. However, newer, better drug combinations appear to promise double or even triple that life expectancy. And with new treatments arriving all the time, the longer that we can keep those infected alive, the better the chance that we can cure them.

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Safer Sex

AIDS is caused by the HIV virus. A simple statement that almost everyone now a days knows and doesn't think much about... "wear a condom and you're safe". Well for the most part that is true, but condoms do break or leak.

Gay Men
For anal sex, use a lubricant with noxinol-9. It offers additional protection against the HIV virus. Also we recommend that you pull out before orgasming. Even if you plan on pulling out use a condom. Not only because sometimes you might not be fast enough, but because anal sex can cause small tears in the lining of the colon, resulting in exposure to blood. Rimming is considered high risk. The deeper that you go the higher the risk. Rimming after having anal sex or using toys on your partner is Very Risky. Use a dental damn or other barrier to offer protection. For Oral Sex it is clear that allowing your partner to cum in your mouth is dangerous. What is unclear is how dangerous pre-cum is. HIV is found in pre-cum. As such, think of it as Is it worth dying for?

Lesbians
Though HIV is rare by comparison in the Lesbian community, it does happen. HIV is found in vaginal fluid, but at lower amounts then in semen. As such, when performing oral sex use a dental damn. Though oral sex is generally low risk, during menstruation, the exposure to blood makes oral sex dangerous! Rimming is considered high risk. The deeper that you go the higher the risk. Rimming after using toys on your partner is Very Risky.

Toys
For both Men & Women, use a new condom on your dildos every time you use them and make sure to change the condom every time you use the toy on a different person. If you are using an item that can not be easily covered by a condom. make sure to wash it with warm soapy water in between people. After you are done with your toys make sure to wash them all with warm soapy water and store them dry.

A special note of caution! Always use a dildo that has a base! Many people have had to go to the hospital to have "lost" dildos removed because they slid fully inside of their user. If you are using a "homemade" substitute, choose the object carefully! Do Not use fragile items such as light bulbs (or other glass objects). These have been known to break causing serious damage! Also, Do Not use hollow items such as pop-bottles. They will slide in, but not come back out! Your body will seal around them and the air pocket in the bottle will make a vacuum when you try to pull it out!

S&M
Remember that exposure to bodily fluids is bad. As such, if your fun is leading to blood, you are going too far. For those who are into fisting, be sure to wear a latex glove!

Remember, that if its not fun that just means that you're not doing it right!!

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