Preventing HIV

How can I avoid becoming infected?

As they say, prevention is better than cure. You can avoid being infected with HIV through the following means:

1. The A-B-C-D approach:

i. Abstain from casual sex
ii. Be faithful

The only 100 percent certain way to avoid infection through sex is to stay faithful to a sex partner who is uninfected, or abstain from such activities altogether.

iii. Condomise (use a condom)

If you are not sure if your sex partner is infected, you should use a latex condom correctly every time you have sex.

iv. Do not share needles or syringes

The HIV virus can be introduced into your body if the needles or syringes have been previously used by a person who has been infected by the HIV virus.

Important facts you need to know

You cannot generally tell by looking at someone whether he or she has been infected with the HIV Virus. A person can be infected with HIV and not know it. It might take years before the infected person actually falls ill and develops symptoms due to AIDS. The only way to be confident that you are not infected with HIV is to get a test.

It is imperative that you find out if you are infected with HIV so that you do not infect someone else. If you are infected with HIV, you should avoid any activity that may pass it on.

It is also important that you ascertain if you are infected with AIDS. The early discovery of your infection will help in ensuring that you receive good medical care. While there are therapies that can keep you healthy, it is the timely start of these therapies that is critical in ensuring that your treatment is a success.

People do not get infected by HIV through casual contact with people at work, home, school or anywhere else. The virus is not spread from contact with sweat, tears, saliva, or a casual kiss from an infected person (deep, or "French kissing" is not advised).

People will not be infected from contact with forks, cups, clothes, phones, toilet seats, or other things used by someone who is infected. People do not get infected from food prepared from a person who is infected from HIV, or through insect bites.

The author is a medical professional with Robertson Medical.

Address:
11, Unity Street
#02-07 Robertson Walk
Singapore 237995

Contact number:
+65 6238 7810

For more information, visit:
http://www.anonymoushivtesting.com.sg
http://www.robertsonmed.com.sg