HIV/AIDS

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Having HIV is also called being "HIV-positive". HIV spreads through your body and attacks your immune system, making it hard to fight off illnesses. The immune system can become so fragile that you can get sick from illnesses that you would normally fight off quite easily. There is no known cure.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. A person who has AIDS has illnesses or cancers that are rare in healthy people. These illnesses are called opportunistic infections and happen when HIV has severely damaged the body’s Helper T-cells, which are part of the immune system. AIDS is usually diagnosed when you are HIV positive and have one or more opportunistic infection(s).

Symptoms & Transmission

HIV is carried in blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk and can enter your body through even the tiniest cut or opening. People usually don't have any symptoms when they first get HIV. Some people live for many years without getting AIDS-related illnesses; however, if you have the HIV virus it is possible to pass it on to others by engaging in unsafe sexual activity or needle sharing. The virus can also be passed from an infected woman to her fetus or by an infected mother who is breastfeeding her baby; however, with proper precautions the risk can be reduced. HIV positive mothers can and do have healthy children who do not have HIV. More information on HIV and pregnancy

You cannot get HIV through:

• Ordinary, day-to-day contact
• Touching a person who has HIV or AIDS
• Sharing cooking utensils
• Taking care of an infected person
• Donating blood.
• Mosquito bites
• Hugging
• Necking
• Petting
• Kissing
• Mutual masturbation
• Saliva
• Sweat
• Urine (pee)
• Stool (poop)
• Nasal secretions (snot)
• Toilet seats

To contract HIV three things need to take place simultaneously:

You need to have a point of entry into your blood stream (a bleeding cut). The cut may be very small and you may not even be aware that you have it. For example, tiny painless cuts in the vagina, anus and on the penis can occur from friction that results from having sex. You need to be engaging in a risk activity (some risk activities are higher risk than others). Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex and sharing needles are considered high risk activities and oral sex poses some risk. Infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk that contains the virus needs to be forced into the blood stream through friction.

Testing

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get your blood tested for HIV antibodies. In some places, you can get an anonymous HIV test where you don't have to give your name. In some clinics rapid HIV testing is now available where the results of the test show up almost immediately. More information on HIV testing.

Treatment

If you have HIV you can take medications to help reduce symptoms. Getting regular sleep, exercise and following a healthy diet can help you stay healthy. Many people live long, healthy lives with HIV.

For more information on HIV or AIDS contact your local health care practitioner, AIDS organization, local member of the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, sexual health clinic or Public Health Department.

Women & HIV

Men and women have a different anatomy so women’s bodies often respond differently to the same illnesses or infections. For more information, visit our pages about women and HIV, and pregnancy and HIV.