ANSWERS How well do you know your HIV/AIDS facts?
Myth: We do not need a condom for oral sex[1]
Fact: Untrue and a very dangerous myth. Condoms must be used each and every sexual encounter; vaginal, anal and oral. There is a commonly held belief among many lay people that oral sex carries little or no risk. In fact, some consider oral sex a safer sex alternative. But the truth is, like any other sexual activity, oral sex carries a risk of transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The risk is even greater in serodiscordant couples (one partner is HIV positive while the other is negative), people who are not monogamous, or in people who inject drugs and/or share needles and syringes.
[1]4 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV and Oral Sex What are the Risks of Oral Sex? January 10, 2010, retrieved January 2011
Myth: HIV can survive for only a short time outside of the body[2]
Fact: HIV can survive at room temperature outside the body for hours if dry (provided that initial concentrations are high), and for weeks if wet (in used syringes/needles). However, the amounts typically present in bodily fluids do not survive nearly as long outside the body—generally no more than a few minutes if dry. Again, the amount of time is longer if wet, especially in syringes/needles and related equipment.
15Wikepedia, Misconceptions about HIV. Retrieved January 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconceptions_about_HIV_and_AIDS
Myth: The AIDS epidemic began when a human male had sexual intercourse with African monkeys, transmitting the virus to modern humans16 Fact: While HIV is most likely a mutated form of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, a disease present only in chimpanzees and African monkeys, it is extremely unlikely that the zoonosis (inter-species transfer of a disease) of HIV occurred through sexual intercourse. The African chimpanzees and monkeys, which carry SIV, are often hunted for food, and epidemiologists theorize that the disease appeared in humans after hunters came into blood-contact with monkeys infected with SIV that they had killed. The first known instance of HIV in a human was found in a person who died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1959, and a recent study dates the last common ancestor of HIV and SIV to between 1884 and 1914 by using a molecular clock approach.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: AIDs can be spread through casual contact with an HIV positive individual16
Fact: One cannot become infected with HIV through day-to-day contact in social settings, schools, or in the workplace. One cannot be infected by shaking someone's hand, by hugging or "dry" kissing someone, by using the same toilet or drinking from the same glass as an HIV-infected person, or by being exposed to coughing or sneezing by an infected person. Saliva carries a negligible viral load, so even open-mouthed kissing is considered a low risk. However, if the infected partner or both of the performers have blood in their mouth due to cuts, open sores, or gum disease, the risk is higher. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only recorded one case of possible HIV transmission through kissing (involving an HIV-infected man with significant gum disease and a sexual partner also with significant gum disease), and the Terence Higgins Trust says that this is essentially a no-risk situation.
Other interactions that could theoretically result in person-to-person transmission include caring for nose bleeds, biting, and home health care procedures, yet there are very few recorded incidents of transmission occurring in this way
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: You can tell by looking at someone if they have HIV16
Fact: Often people with HIV will not appear ill. In fact, you generally cannot tell if someone is living with HIV.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: The Top Partner During Vaginal and Anal Sex Is at Low Risk for HIV[3]
Fact: In reality, the top partner (the inserting partner) is at high risk of infection, and the bottom partner (the receiving partner) is at even higher risk of infection. This is because the top partner is being exposed to his partner's blood during anal sex (this is normal), and he is being exposed to his partner's vaginal secretions and possibly menstrual blood, during vaginal sex.
HIV can enter his body through microscopic cuts/abrasions on the head of his penis that normally occur during intercourse. Having another sexually transmitted disease (like syphilis and herpes) that causes open lesions can further increase this risk. During unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse, the insertive partner (the top) is at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and the receptive partner (the bottom) is at even higher risk. Neither partner is at low risk.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: Oral Sex Is Low Risk for HIV17
Fact: This is only half right. Receiving oral sex (which would expose you only to saliva) is very low risk for HIV. But giving oral sex (exposure to pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions or menstrual blood) is risky for HIV. The more of these body fluids that a person gets into their mouth, the greater the risk.
For example, when giving a man oral sex, there is a risk from pre-cum, but a much greater risk if the man ejaculates in your mouth. The risk is less than intercourse, but the risk is real. And yes, there have already been cases of HIV transmission through giving oral sex. And remember, you can also get other sexually transmitted diseases (like gonorrhea) by giving someone oral sex.
[1]7 The Well Project. The Body. Myths about HIV, July 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art58887.html
Myth: Lesbians don't get HIV[4]
Fact: Women who only have sex with women are generally at much lower risk for getting any sexually transmitted disease. But in rare cases, they can still get HIV. One report tells of a lesbian who was infected through sharing sex toys with an HIV-positive woman. Also, some women who consider themselves lesbians occasionally have sex with men, and can get infected that way. Lesbians who use drugs and share needles can get HIV from a needle that has been used by someone who is HIV positive.
[1]7 The Well Project. The Body. Myths about HIV, July 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art58887.html
Myth: HIV can be spread through tears, sweat, mosquitoes, pools, or casual contact 14
Fact: HIV can only be transmitted through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways for HIV to be transmitted are through unprotected sexual contact and/or sharing needles with an HIV-positive person. HIV can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
The following "bodily fluids" are NOT infectious:
· Tears
· Sweat
· Saliva
· Urine
· Feces
Casual contact is not considered risky because it does not include contact with blood or other infectious body fluids. Examples of casual contact include: social kissing, public venues (pools, theaters, bathrooms), sharing drinks or eating utensils, etc.
14 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV Reinfection and Positive Prevention, Why Safer Sex is Important? Updated July 11, 2007, retrieved January 2011
Myth: I'm safe because I'm in a monogamous relationship (or married) 14
Fact: Were you tested for HIV before you got into the relationship? Was your partner? Were both tests negative? And do you spend 24 hours a day together? If you're faithful, but he or she is not, or he or she was already HIV positive before you met, you can still get HIV.
14 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV Reinfection and Positive Prevention, Why Safer Sex is Important? Updated July 11, 2007, retrieved January 2011
Myth: Both my partner and I are infected, therefore we do not need to use a condom14
Fact: For years HIV reinfection or superinfection as it is sometimes called, is a consequence of unprotected sexual encounters between two HIV infected people. Simply put, reinfection occurs when a person living with HIV gets infected a second time while having unprotected sex with another HIV infected person. It's been proven to be possible in laboratory studies as well as in animal trials. And for years, proof that it could happen in real-life situations has been hard to come by. But now, compelling evidence has surfaced in human case studies that have confirmed our fears that HIV reinfection can occur and can be very problematic for HIV infected people.
14 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV Reinfection and Positive Prevention, Why Safer Sex is Important? Updated July 11, 2007, retrieved January 2011
Myth: It's not AIDS that kills people; it's the medicines they take[5] Fact: HIV medications, known as antiretrovirals, don't cure HIV, but they can help keep people healthy for many years. People died from AIDS before antiretrovirals became available. Since combination drug therapy for HIV was begun in 1996, the average life expectancy for HIV-positive people in Europe and North America has increased. In addition, death rates for HIV-positive people who receive combination antiretroviral treatment has dropped. Unfortunately, the HIV drugs do have side effects and toxicity (for some people) that can be life-threatening in very rare cases. The good news is that many of the newer HIV medications have fewer side effects and are easier to take. 18Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
Myth: The HIV/AIDS test is not reliable18
Fact: The 'AIDS test' measures HIV antibodies. If you are infected, your immune system will make antibodies against HIV. The HIV antibody test (called ELISA or EIA) is one of the most reliable medical tests. Before you get the results, the test has usually been done two or more times. Before a positive antibody test result is reported, it is confirmed by another test called a Western Blot. According to the CDC, the combined accuracy of the antibody test plus the Western Blot is greater than 99 percent. Today, testing for HIV is more reliable than tests for many other diseases. The accuracy in establishing whether a person does – or does not – have HIV infection is quite high and reliable. Usually when a test comes back HIV positive, the test is repeated or other test are done to check for viral genetic material in body fluids and cells to confirm the first test results.
18Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
Myth: If I'm receiving treatment, I can't spread the HIV virus18
Fact: When HIV treatments work well, they can reduce the amount of virus in your
blood to a level so low that it doesn't show up in blood tests. Research shows, however, that the virus is still "hiding" in other areas of the body. It is still essential to practice safe sex so you won't make someone else become HIV-positive.
18Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
Myth: The Number of People Infected With HIV Is Going Down 16
Fact: Actually, just the opposite is true. The number of people who are infected with HIV is going up. What has been going down is the number of new cases of AIDS in the U.S., and the death rate due to AIDS in developed nations. What's the difference? There is an average of 10 years from the time a person is infected with HIV, until a diagnosis of AIDS. AIDS statistics therefore tell us how many people were becoming infected an average of 10 years ago, and how they became infected 10 years ago. So prevention efforts 10 years ago is one of the reasons we are seeing a decrease in new AIDS cases today.
But in addition, better HIV/AIDS treatments are keeping people healthier and living longer, thus slowing down the progression from infection to AIDS, and also, reducing the death rate from AIDS.
However, when we look at HIV statistics (that is, how people are becoming infected today, and how many are living with HIV), the numbers are going up. This is due to a combination of two factors. First, the number of new cases of HIV infection is remaining relatively stable. Along with that, people who already have HIV/AIDS are living longer. When we combine these two factors, the number of people living with HIV is growing. So although the rates of new cases of AIDS, and the death rate due to AIDS is decreasing in developed nations, the number of people living with HIV is increasing! Also remember that in developing nations (such as in Africa and Asia), both the number of new cases of AIDS, and the number of deaths due to AIDS, are still increasing.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: Only gay people get HIV/AIDS [6]
Fact: When the epidemic began in the early 1980s, the first cases of HIV and AIDS were found among urban men who had sex with men (MSM). Today, however, the picture of the epidemic looks very different. Many newcases of HIV occur among heterosexual women of color, ethnic minorities, and people who live in rural areas.
While the number of new cases is still highest among MSM, it is important to remember that HIV is transmitted primarily by risky sexual and drug-taking behaviors. If you engage in those behaviors, without taking protective measures, you are at risk of HIV infection--regardless of the gender of your partner.
19 AIDS.gov HIV-AIDS-Basics November 2010 from
http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/overview/myths/
Myth: There is a cure for HIV/AIDS [7]
Fact: There is no cure for HIV infection. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) helps manage symptoms and the amount of the virus in the body, but it is not a cure. People with HIV who are receiving HAART are living longer and longer. However, if HAART is stopped, the virus becomes stronger and eventually develops into AIDS.
20 Aidshealth.org About HIV/AIDS 2010
http://www.aidshealth.org/about-hiv-aids/hiv-aids/hivaids-myths.html
[1] Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV and Oral Sex What are the Risks of Oral Sex? Updated January 10, 2010, retrieved January 2011
[2] Wikepedia, Misconceptions about HIV. Retrieved January 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconceptions_about_HIV_and_AIDS
[3] Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
[4] The Well Project. The Body. Myths about HIV, July 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art58887.html
[5] Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
[6] AIDS.gov HIV-AIDS-Basics November 2010 from
http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/overview/myths/
[7] Aidshealth.org About HIV/AIDS 2010
http://www.aidshealth.org/about-hiv-aids/hiv-aids/hivaids-myths.html
Myth: We do not need a condom for oral sex[1]
Fact: Untrue and a very dangerous myth. Condoms must be used each and every sexual encounter; vaginal, anal and oral. There is a commonly held belief among many lay people that oral sex carries little or no risk. In fact, some consider oral sex a safer sex alternative. But the truth is, like any other sexual activity, oral sex carries a risk of transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The risk is even greater in serodiscordant couples (one partner is HIV positive while the other is negative), people who are not monogamous, or in people who inject drugs and/or share needles and syringes.
[1]4 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV and Oral Sex What are the Risks of Oral Sex? January 10, 2010, retrieved January 2011
Myth: HIV can survive for only a short time outside of the body[2]
Fact: HIV can survive at room temperature outside the body for hours if dry (provided that initial concentrations are high), and for weeks if wet (in used syringes/needles). However, the amounts typically present in bodily fluids do not survive nearly as long outside the body—generally no more than a few minutes if dry. Again, the amount of time is longer if wet, especially in syringes/needles and related equipment.
15Wikepedia, Misconceptions about HIV. Retrieved January 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconceptions_about_HIV_and_AIDS
Myth: The AIDS epidemic began when a human male had sexual intercourse with African monkeys, transmitting the virus to modern humans16 Fact: While HIV is most likely a mutated form of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, a disease present only in chimpanzees and African monkeys, it is extremely unlikely that the zoonosis (inter-species transfer of a disease) of HIV occurred through sexual intercourse. The African chimpanzees and monkeys, which carry SIV, are often hunted for food, and epidemiologists theorize that the disease appeared in humans after hunters came into blood-contact with monkeys infected with SIV that they had killed. The first known instance of HIV in a human was found in a person who died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1959, and a recent study dates the last common ancestor of HIV and SIV to between 1884 and 1914 by using a molecular clock approach.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: AIDs can be spread through casual contact with an HIV positive individual16
Fact: One cannot become infected with HIV through day-to-day contact in social settings, schools, or in the workplace. One cannot be infected by shaking someone's hand, by hugging or "dry" kissing someone, by using the same toilet or drinking from the same glass as an HIV-infected person, or by being exposed to coughing or sneezing by an infected person. Saliva carries a negligible viral load, so even open-mouthed kissing is considered a low risk. However, if the infected partner or both of the performers have blood in their mouth due to cuts, open sores, or gum disease, the risk is higher. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only recorded one case of possible HIV transmission through kissing (involving an HIV-infected man with significant gum disease and a sexual partner also with significant gum disease), and the Terence Higgins Trust says that this is essentially a no-risk situation.
Other interactions that could theoretically result in person-to-person transmission include caring for nose bleeds, biting, and home health care procedures, yet there are very few recorded incidents of transmission occurring in this way
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: You can tell by looking at someone if they have HIV16
Fact: Often people with HIV will not appear ill. In fact, you generally cannot tell if someone is living with HIV.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: The Top Partner During Vaginal and Anal Sex Is at Low Risk for HIV[3]
Fact: In reality, the top partner (the inserting partner) is at high risk of infection, and the bottom partner (the receiving partner) is at even higher risk of infection. This is because the top partner is being exposed to his partner's blood during anal sex (this is normal), and he is being exposed to his partner's vaginal secretions and possibly menstrual blood, during vaginal sex.
HIV can enter his body through microscopic cuts/abrasions on the head of his penis that normally occur during intercourse. Having another sexually transmitted disease (like syphilis and herpes) that causes open lesions can further increase this risk. During unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse, the insertive partner (the top) is at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and the receptive partner (the bottom) is at even higher risk. Neither partner is at low risk.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: Oral Sex Is Low Risk for HIV17
Fact: This is only half right. Receiving oral sex (which would expose you only to saliva) is very low risk for HIV. But giving oral sex (exposure to pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions or menstrual blood) is risky for HIV. The more of these body fluids that a person gets into their mouth, the greater the risk.
For example, when giving a man oral sex, there is a risk from pre-cum, but a much greater risk if the man ejaculates in your mouth. The risk is less than intercourse, but the risk is real. And yes, there have already been cases of HIV transmission through giving oral sex. And remember, you can also get other sexually transmitted diseases (like gonorrhea) by giving someone oral sex.
[1]7 The Well Project. The Body. Myths about HIV, July 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art58887.html
Myth: Lesbians don't get HIV[4]
Fact: Women who only have sex with women are generally at much lower risk for getting any sexually transmitted disease. But in rare cases, they can still get HIV. One report tells of a lesbian who was infected through sharing sex toys with an HIV-positive woman. Also, some women who consider themselves lesbians occasionally have sex with men, and can get infected that way. Lesbians who use drugs and share needles can get HIV from a needle that has been used by someone who is HIV positive.
[1]7 The Well Project. The Body. Myths about HIV, July 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art58887.html
Myth: HIV can be spread through tears, sweat, mosquitoes, pools, or casual contact 14
Fact: HIV can only be transmitted through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways for HIV to be transmitted are through unprotected sexual contact and/or sharing needles with an HIV-positive person. HIV can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
The following "bodily fluids" are NOT infectious:
· Tears
· Sweat
· Saliva
· Urine
· Feces
Casual contact is not considered risky because it does not include contact with blood or other infectious body fluids. Examples of casual contact include: social kissing, public venues (pools, theaters, bathrooms), sharing drinks or eating utensils, etc.
14 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV Reinfection and Positive Prevention, Why Safer Sex is Important? Updated July 11, 2007, retrieved January 2011
Myth: I'm safe because I'm in a monogamous relationship (or married) 14
Fact: Were you tested for HIV before you got into the relationship? Was your partner? Were both tests negative? And do you spend 24 hours a day together? If you're faithful, but he or she is not, or he or she was already HIV positive before you met, you can still get HIV.
14 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV Reinfection and Positive Prevention, Why Safer Sex is Important? Updated July 11, 2007, retrieved January 2011
Myth: Both my partner and I are infected, therefore we do not need to use a condom14
Fact: For years HIV reinfection or superinfection as it is sometimes called, is a consequence of unprotected sexual encounters between two HIV infected people. Simply put, reinfection occurs when a person living with HIV gets infected a second time while having unprotected sex with another HIV infected person. It's been proven to be possible in laboratory studies as well as in animal trials. And for years, proof that it could happen in real-life situations has been hard to come by. But now, compelling evidence has surfaced in human case studies that have confirmed our fears that HIV reinfection can occur and can be very problematic for HIV infected people.
14 Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV Reinfection and Positive Prevention, Why Safer Sex is Important? Updated July 11, 2007, retrieved January 2011
Myth: It's not AIDS that kills people; it's the medicines they take[5] Fact: HIV medications, known as antiretrovirals, don't cure HIV, but they can help keep people healthy for many years. People died from AIDS before antiretrovirals became available. Since combination drug therapy for HIV was begun in 1996, the average life expectancy for HIV-positive people in Europe and North America has increased. In addition, death rates for HIV-positive people who receive combination antiretroviral treatment has dropped. Unfortunately, the HIV drugs do have side effects and toxicity (for some people) that can be life-threatening in very rare cases. The good news is that many of the newer HIV medications have fewer side effects and are easier to take. 18Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
Myth: The HIV/AIDS test is not reliable18
Fact: The 'AIDS test' measures HIV antibodies. If you are infected, your immune system will make antibodies against HIV. The HIV antibody test (called ELISA or EIA) is one of the most reliable medical tests. Before you get the results, the test has usually been done two or more times. Before a positive antibody test result is reported, it is confirmed by another test called a Western Blot. According to the CDC, the combined accuracy of the antibody test plus the Western Blot is greater than 99 percent. Today, testing for HIV is more reliable than tests for many other diseases. The accuracy in establishing whether a person does – or does not – have HIV infection is quite high and reliable. Usually when a test comes back HIV positive, the test is repeated or other test are done to check for viral genetic material in body fluids and cells to confirm the first test results.
18Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
Myth: If I'm receiving treatment, I can't spread the HIV virus18
Fact: When HIV treatments work well, they can reduce the amount of virus in your
blood to a level so low that it doesn't show up in blood tests. Research shows, however, that the virus is still "hiding" in other areas of the body. It is still essential to practice safe sex so you won't make someone else become HIV-positive.
18Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
Myth: The Number of People Infected With HIV Is Going Down 16
Fact: Actually, just the opposite is true. The number of people who are infected with HIV is going up. What has been going down is the number of new cases of AIDS in the U.S., and the death rate due to AIDS in developed nations. What's the difference? There is an average of 10 years from the time a person is infected with HIV, until a diagnosis of AIDS. AIDS statistics therefore tell us how many people were becoming infected an average of 10 years ago, and how they became infected 10 years ago. So prevention efforts 10 years ago is one of the reasons we are seeing a decrease in new AIDS cases today.
But in addition, better HIV/AIDS treatments are keeping people healthier and living longer, thus slowing down the progression from infection to AIDS, and also, reducing the death rate from AIDS.
However, when we look at HIV statistics (that is, how people are becoming infected today, and how many are living with HIV), the numbers are going up. This is due to a combination of two factors. First, the number of new cases of HIV infection is remaining relatively stable. Along with that, people who already have HIV/AIDS are living longer. When we combine these two factors, the number of people living with HIV is growing. So although the rates of new cases of AIDS, and the death rate due to AIDS is decreasing in developed nations, the number of people living with HIV is increasing! Also remember that in developing nations (such as in Africa and Asia), both the number of new cases of AIDS, and the number of deaths due to AIDS, are still increasing.
[1]6 Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
Myth: Only gay people get HIV/AIDS [6]
Fact: When the epidemic began in the early 1980s, the first cases of HIV and AIDS were found among urban men who had sex with men (MSM). Today, however, the picture of the epidemic looks very different. Many newcases of HIV occur among heterosexual women of color, ethnic minorities, and people who live in rural areas.
While the number of new cases is still highest among MSM, it is important to remember that HIV is transmitted primarily by risky sexual and drug-taking behaviors. If you engage in those behaviors, without taking protective measures, you are at risk of HIV infection--regardless of the gender of your partner.
19 AIDS.gov HIV-AIDS-Basics November 2010 from
http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/overview/myths/
Myth: There is a cure for HIV/AIDS [7]
Fact: There is no cure for HIV infection. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) helps manage symptoms and the amount of the virus in the body, but it is not a cure. People with HIV who are receiving HAART are living longer and longer. However, if HAART is stopped, the virus becomes stronger and eventually develops into AIDS.
20 Aidshealth.org About HIV/AIDS 2010
http://www.aidshealth.org/about-hiv-aids/hiv-aids/hivaids-myths.html
[1] Cichocki, M. About.com Guide HIV and Oral Sex What are the Risks of Oral Sex? Updated January 10, 2010, retrieved January 2011
[2] Wikepedia, Misconceptions about HIV. Retrieved January 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconceptions_about_HIV_and_AIDS
[3] Sowadsky, R. The Body, Seperating Myths from Facts, January 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/prev/art2293.html
[4] The Well Project. The Body. Myths about HIV, July 2010, Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art58887.html
[5] Women Fitness.net. Top 10 Myths about HIV Retrieved January 2011 from http://www.womenfitness.net/top_10_myths_about_hiv_and_the_reality.htm
[6] AIDS.gov HIV-AIDS-Basics November 2010 from
http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/overview/myths/
[7] Aidshealth.org About HIV/AIDS 2010
http://www.aidshealth.org/about-hiv-aids/hiv-aids/hivaids-myths.html