AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a condition that gradually destroys the body's immune system and ability to fight off disease. The term is often used to describe a wide range of infections and symptoms that can take hold when the body is unable to protect itself. Most of these illnesses are treatable, and some are preventable. Scientists believe that AIDS and the infections associated with it are caused by a virus known as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This virus can only be transmitted in four ways: 1) having unsafe sex 2) sharing a needle or syringe with an infected person 3) from a mother to her unborn or nursing child and 4) from infected blood or blood products. New drugs appear to be very effective in fighting HIV virus, but there is still no cure. New treatments, including the so-called "cocktail" combination therapies are expensive and have toxic side effects. Prevention remains the most effective way to fight AIDS. STAYING SAFE: By and large, the spread of HIV can be prevented by following two precautions: practice safer sex and don't share needles. Safer Sex at its most basic means properly using a latex condom every time you engage in vaginal or anal intercourse. You should also use a latex barrier for oral sex with a man or a woman. If you inject drugs, only use new needles, or ones that have been properly cleaned with bleach. WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AIDS? The AIDS epidemic is perhaps the worst health crisis in history. In addition to the obvious human tragedy, AIDS has attracted a lot of unfortunate misunderstanding and prejudice which makes all aspects of health education and treatment more difficult. Worst of all, prejudice has hurt people living with HIV or AIDS, their friends and loved ones almost as much as has the virus itself. Therefore, the fight against AIDS is a social cause which has gone beyond being a medical emergency to involve fundamental human rights and personal dignity. People infected with HIV are our friends and neighbors; they are people in our offices and schools, churches and synagogues. They are our children, our parents, our brothers and sisters. They live in every state and community in every nation. Each of us must learn how to prevent infection with HIV, how to support the people around us who are HIV-infected, and how to make sure that our national, state, and local governments deal sensibly with this insidious disease. For someone to get infected with HIV, the virus must get past the skin into the body. A person can let that happen in one of four ways: a. by having sex without a condom with someone who is infected; b. by injecting drugs with needles you are sharing with someone who is infected; c. and by having a blood transfusion with blood from an infected donor. However, blood donated for transfusions in the United States is now tested for HIV, so people here are almost never infected through blood transfusions. d. the virus can pass from an infected woman to her baby in the womb, during birth, or during breast feeding. Are you sure you can't be infected any other way? Millions of people in the world have been infected with HIV, so by now we would know if there were any ways to get the infection other than through the ways listed above. No one has ever been infected by a shared coffee cup, spoon, or fork, or by the use of a water fountain or a toilet seat. No one has ever been infected by a mosquito or another insect. No one has ever been infected by hugging people with AIDS or by eating dinner with them or by dancing with them or by keeping them company and listening when they need to talk to someone. Safer sex and how to use a condom Since we know that the virus is transmitted by body fluids entering another body, the best way to prevent infection is to block that entrance. Latex condoms (rubbers) have been proven to be the most effective prevention against HIV infection. Lambskin and other "natural membrane" condoms are not as good as latex. They may allow HIV to pass through. The use of spermicidal (sperm-killing) lubricants, especially those with nonoxynol-9, may increase your protection. But they should always be used with a condom and never instead of a condom. Condoms still provide the greatest protection, and relieve you of the worry about the risk involved. Both men and women should learn how to use condoms properly. Make them an integral part of sex and not an embarrassing, fumbling intermission. Performing oral sex, though far less risky than anal or vaginal sex, can also transmit HIV. In oral sex with women, dental dams may be used. A dental dam is a six-inch square piece of thin latex that's available in dental and medical supply stores. You can make a home-made dam by cutting a rolled condom to the center and opening it up, or by using plastic wrap. (However, neither has been tested for protection against HIV.) The dam should cover the entire vulva and should be held at both edges. Be careful not to turn the dam inside-out during oral sex, since this will totally defeat the purpose. Dental dams can also be used for oral-anal sex by both men and women, to help prevent other sexually trasmitted diseases. Remember: Never re-use condoms or dental dams! How HIV-infection happens You have heard that people in "high-risk groups" can get HIV. But it's not who you are, it's what you do. High-risk behavior will leave you open to HIV infection, no matter who you are. High-risk behavior is: Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex with someone who is infected. (Unprotected means without a latex condom.) Although it's easier for the receptive partner to be infected, research has shown that the virus can also move in the opposite direction, infecting the insertive partner. Therefore, it doesn't matter if you're a "top" or "bottom," man or woman, you can be infected without protection. Unprotected, receptive anal sex appears to be the most common route of sexual transmission. Oral sex is less risky, but it is possible to become infected orally. Sharing needles with an infected person or injecting any substance with an unsterile needle is probably the most direct way to become infected. (Sex partners of people who shoot drugs are also at greater risk if they have unprotected sex.) IV drug users should never share needles, works or cookers. Many place in the U.S. now have needle exchange programs, which offer clean needles to protect drug users from HIV. If you have to share injection paraphernalia, clean them. Donating blood in the U.S. is absolutely safe! Needles used to take blood are sterile and individually packaged. They are also destroyed after use. Although there have been cases of infection in the past, it is now nearly impossible to become infected with HIV by receiving blood via a transfusion. Screening procedures to detect infected blood have been in place for many years. Receiving transfusions, too, puts you at virtually no risk for HIV at the present time. The only other way to get HIV is to be born with the virus. It can be transmitted before or at birth from the infected mother to her child, or through breastfeeding. You cannot be infected with HIV through casual contact such as touching, using public facilities like toilets and phones, or sharing eating utensils and food. Living with HIV-infected people poses no risk unless you have unprotected sex with them or share needles. Keeping your body in top shape can help keep your immune system strong. Diet, how much rest you get ans stress can all affect your health when you have HIV. If you don't already have a doctor who is familiar with your medical history, get one. Talk to him or her if you have questions about your health. For more information about local AIDS Service Providers, see our LINKS section.