HIV / AIDS FAQ - World AIDS Day 2008

How does a person get HIV/AIDS?

Many of the myths about HIV/AIDS include how you get it.

In general, the spread of HIV/AIDS involves an exchange of bodily fluids between an infected and an uninfected person. How does this happen? Accidental needle sticks or splashes of blood can result in HIV/AIDS infection. This is why you see doctors, dentists, nurses, emergency medical personnel, hospital staff and athletic trainers taking precautions against spreading the virus. Precautions include wearing surgical masks and gloves.But, for the most part, the spread of HIV/AIDS results from the kind of high-risk behaviors described in the section:

What are the risk factors for HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS may be transmitted by:Having unprotected sex (sex without a latex condom) with a person who is HIV-positive. The virus can be in an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal fluids and can enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum or mouth. Sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs, or sharing drug equipment used in preparing those drugs with someone who has HIV. Receiving HIV-infected blood or blood products before 1985. Since 1985, all blood used for transfusions in the United States has been tested for HIV and is generally considered safe. Carrying, giving birth to or breast-feeding a child while HIV positive.

You cannot get HIV:

From dry kisses (closed-mouthed kisses) or hugs
From donating blood
By working with or being around someone who has HIV
From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet seats, or having a meal together
From insect bites or stings

How do I know I have HIV/AIDS? What are the symptoms?

The only way to know for sure whether you are infected is to be tested. This involves a blood test.You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether you are infected with HIV. About half the people who are infected have flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of having been exposed to HIV. However, just as many people infected by HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years.Over time, as the immune system weakens, maybe over months or years, symptoms begin to develop.

The following may be warning signs of HIV infection:

rapid weight loss
dry cough
fevers or night sweats
extreme tiredness
swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
pelvic inflammatory disease in women that does not respond to treatment
pneumonia
persistent skin rashes or flaky skin
short-term memory loss

Do not assume you are infected if you have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses. The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection.

HIV tests do not actually test for the virus, but test for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies are made by the body's white blood cells to fight infection. If these antibodies are present in your blood, you are HIV-positive and need treatment.If you think you have been exposed to HIV, it is important to be tested as soon as possible, whether you have symptoms or not. The sooner you can get treatment, the less your immune system will be damaged. Unfortunately, the antibodies to the virus don't appear right away. It can take eight to twelve weeks for the antibodies to show up in a test.

AIDS look for opportunistic infections

What are some of the “opportunistic infections” and side effects linked to HIV/AIDS?

AIDS-Related Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
Anemia
Bacterial Pneumonia
Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
Vaginal Candidiasis
Cervical Cancer
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Herpes virus
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)
Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)
Menstrual Problems
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
Toxoplasmosis (Toxo)
Tuberculosis (TB)

HIV/AIDS: Questions to Ask the Doctor (Health A to Z)

This site lists questions to ask doctors if you have just tested positive or been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Treatment & care: Questions to ask your doctor (British HIV Association and International HIV/AIDS Alliance)

Treatments: Questions to ask your doctor covers basic information about AIDS medications. What to expect, what the drug looks like, how to take it, side effects, and relief of side effects are discussed. Answers tell you how and where to get more information.

Office Visit Checklist (Mdchoice.com)

Office Visit Checklist is a checklist for your regular appointments. Use it to help you remember what to ask your doctor about on your next visit.

The Nine (9) Serious STDS

The latest estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are approximately 19 million new STD infections each year, with almost half of those occurring in teens and young adults ages 15 to 24. Almost half of women have a sexual problem of some sort, according to a report today from HealthDay. Since sexually transmitted diseases often are announced only by nonspecific signs (like abdominal pain and fever), they may easily be mistaken for other illnesses—and that means the number of cases may actually be much higher.

That's not good, say experts: Certain STDs, undiagnosed and untreated, can wreak havoc, bringing serious and even life-threatening consequences.

Here's a list of nine serious STDs—and one that's just a nuisance:

1. Chlamydia. Nicknamed the "silent disease," chlamydia often does its damage unnoticed; indeed, it produces virtually no symptoms in about half the men and three quarters of the women who get it, according to the CDC. But that can mean trouble, especially for women: Infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease,and dangerous ectopic pregnancies can result if the infection isn't stopped with antibiotics. While men rarely experience complications, the infection can spread to the tube that shuttles sperm, leading to pain, fever, and a remote chance of sterility. Once a woman has been infected with chlamydia, she is up to five times more likely to contract HIV if exposed to the virus. To avoid serious problems, the CDC urges—at a minimum— annual screening tests for all sexually active women ages 25 and under, as well as tests for all pregnant women. A mother's untreated chlamydia infections can invade a newborn's eyes and respiratory tract, which is why it's the leading cause of pink eye and pneumonia in infants, according to the CDC.

2. Syphilis. Once thought to be nearly eradicated in the United States, syphilis has staged a comeback in the past decade. It is most common among men with same-sex partners, although women, too, can become infected. Syphilis typically unfolds in stages, the first of which is marked by a small, often painless sore that may heal on its own (it is through direct contact with syphilis sores that the bacterial infection is spread.) If untreated, a rash of red-brown spots may pock the palms of hands and soles of feet, a sign that the infection has progressed to its second stage. Fever, swollen glands, a sore throat, hair loss, headaches, and other symptoms of this stage may emerge and resolve on their own. Without treatment, however, late-stage syphilis will develop. This can take up to 20 years, but it can involve such extensive damage to vital organs like the brain, heart, blood vessels, nerves, liver, bones, and joints that a person can't survive.

3. Genital Human Papillomavirus. It's a common complaint but should not be taken lightly: Although 90 percent of cases will be resolved by a person's own immune system within two years, some of the 40-plus HPV strains that infect the genitals boost the risk of certain cancers, according to the CDC. Cervical cancer, for one, can be especially dangerous because it tends not to produce symptoms until it's quite advanced. More rarely, HPV infections can lead to vulvar, vaginal, anal, or penile cancer. Since the infection is caused by a virus, there is no treatment (although warts can be removed by medications or physicians). Regular Pap tests and exams are recommended to flag signs of cancer before it can develop. Gardasil, a vaccine that can protect women against some of the strains linked to cervical cancer, is recommended for some women.

4. Gonorrhea. Like chlamydia, this common bacterial STD can progress silently, leaving people with intractable health problems. Symptoms such as discolored penile discharge or signs that mimic those of a bladder or vaginal infection may occur. Unnoticed and untreated, gonorrhea can cause infertility in both men and women. It is also a common culprit behind pelvic inflammatory disease. Once treated with antibiotics, people can be re-infected by untreated partners.

5. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when the uterus, fallopian tubes, or other female reproductive organs become invaded by infection-causing bacteria. Two common culprits are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Each year, more than 100,000 women are left infertile by an untreated case of PID, which can be cured with antibiotics, according to the CDC. PID can lead to lifelong pelvic pain and pus-filled internal abscesses and can raise the odds of ectopic pregnancies. Suspicious vaginal discharge, painful sex or urination, and bleeding between periods may all be signs that something is awry.

6. Trichomoniasis. A one-celled parasite causes this STD, and a frothy, odorous, greenish-yellow discharge can be a sign that a woman has it. Infected men don't usually show signs, though some may experience abnormal penile discharge or pain after urinating or ejaculating. Trichomoniasis can make women more likely to contract HIV if exposed and may increase the likelihood that an HIV-infected woman will transmit HIV to her partner. Trichomoniasis is curable with medications.

7. Genital Herpes. Some victims have bouts of painful genital sores, but many who are infected with genital herpes are unaware because symptoms may be absent or confused with the flu. Caused by two types of the herpes simplex virus, genital herpes has no cure, though antiviral medications may help manage the severity of outbreaks. Because it's a chronic infection, genital herpes can be psychologically distressing for those infected and can cause potentially deadly infections in babies if transmitted from a mother. Transmission from mother to baby is rare, but freshly acquired genital herpes late in pregnancy can boost the risk, says the CDC.

8. HIV. The virus that causes AIDS can lie dormant with no signs for over a decade, though
symptoms include extreme fatigue, swollen lymph glands, persistent diarrhea, dry cough, rapid weight loss, pneumonia, night sweats, and a recurring fever. While any of these symptoms alone may not be cause for alarm, since they could be caused by a slew of other illnesses, the only way to be sure is to be tested, advises the CDC. Untreated, HIV can cripple the immune system. The infection may not ever advance to AIDS, but if it does, it can be deadly. While drugs can halt the progression of the virus, no cure exists. Click here to learn more about the prevalence of HIV infections among black women or here to read about one young woman's battle with HIV.

9. Chancroid. This bacterial infection is quite common in Africa and Asia and is also infecting Americans. Chancroid can cause ulcer-like genital sores that are often accompanied by swollen lymph nodes around the groin. Like many STDs, untreated chancroid makes it easier to acquire and spread HIV.

10. Crabs. Days after sex or intimate contact, the intense itching may start—a sign that these blood-sucking parasites may have chosen an unfortunate place to call home. The tiny lice typically spread by moving from one person's pubic hair to a partner's, although it is possible to acquire crabs from clothing, furniture, or bedding. The critters can survive without a human host for about 24 hours.

XLPharmacy

Erection FAQs

What causes an erection?

Well, whatever turns you on basically but the hard science is this:

Erections occur when the small muscles in your peni*, which are usually tightly contracted, relax and let blood start flowing in.

The spongy tissue in the peni* fills with blood and expands, pushing against the veins and closing them so the blood cannot drain out again.

Well, you did ask.

Why can't I get an erection?

There are two things that men complain about in the erection department – not getting one when you want one and getting one when you don’t want one.

Not getting an erection when you want one is usually called erectile dysfunction (ED) or sometimes impotence. ED is a better description because the problem can usually be solved. In fact, nearly all men suffer from ED from time to time. The official estimate is that impotence affects about one in ten men at any one time. (Incidence increases from about one in 13 in men under 30 to one in two in men over 70.) But some surveys have put it as high as one in four.

It’s no big deal. It’s one of the things about being a flesh and blood human rather than a robot. Blokes who expect their peni* to work like machines have not learned that yet. Don’t worry about it but don't ignore it either. If it keeps happening, see a doctor.

Why see a doctor about a bit of brewer's droop?

Simply because ED can be an early warning of some serious health problems including:

heart disease;
narrow arteries;
high blood pressure;
diabetes;
Peyronie’s Disease;
multiple sclerosis;
an injury to the pelvis or spinal cord;
heavy drinking or smoking;
drugs - either the side effects of prescribed drugs (for example, some antidepressants and drugs for hypertension) or the abuse of non-prescribed drugs.
Low testosterone levels are seldom the cause of ED.
Research suggests that men don’t seek help with ED because they don’t think it can be treated. This is not true. There are many causes of ED, some physical, some psychological. You can read all about them here.

There is usually a physical cause for ED – it is only purely psychological in about 25% cases - but whatever the cause worrying about sexual performance can make it worse. Anxiety contracts the muscles preventing blood entering the peni*.

If you get erections at night or when masturbating but have problems with your partner, it’s almost certainly not a physical problem so just relax. Chances are you’ll live to at least 80 so there’s plenty of time.

And, as usual, smoking is a no-no. Nicotine interferes with the flow of blood to the peni* making an erection less likely. Smokers are 50-80% more likely to become impotent than non-smokers.

I’ve got an erection all the time.

Getting erections all the time may not sound like a problem but it can be. Young men can get sexually excited very easily so have a lot of erections. This can be embarrassing but it’s not a problem and when you’re older you’ll probably remember the days fondly.

However, if your penis becomes hard for long periods or when you’re not sexually excited you may have a condition called priapism. The condition is painful, and requires prompt treatment to avoid the risk of permanent damage to the penis and ED in the future. (As a guide, any man whose erection continues for four hours or more, should see a doctor.) More on priapism.

Where can I find out more about drugs like Cialis and Viagra that help you get an erection?

That's easy. XLPharmacy has got those medications. But as with all drugs some can be dangerous and have side-effects, please don't self-prescribe, talk to your doctor first. Then come back and find the lowest price FDA approved erectile dysfunction medications online right here if that is what he or she prescribes.