HIV

hurts when you pee or if you have warts and/or sores on your genitals or mouth.

HIV 101

HIV is short for Human Immunodeficiency (im-MYU-no de-FISHen-see) Virus. It describes a disease where a virus suppresses your immune system so that it is more difficult to stay in good health. The virus attacks the red blood cells and makes your body weaker when fighting off sickness. If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS (Aquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Today, there is treatment and care for those living with HIV. We are now finding People living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) are living as long as people who are HIV negative. PHAs are having biological children who are HIV negative, and have unprotected sex without transmitting HIV!

Q&A

Can you get HIV from a bug bite?

> No, it’s called HUMAN immunodeficiency virus. The virus infects only humans, and is transmitted only among humans.

Which body fluids can transmit HIV?

> Blood, semen, precum, vaginal fluids, anal fuilds, and breast/ chest milk. Saliva, tears, poop, pee, and sweat are not fluids that can transmit the virus. HIV does not spread from skin-toskin touching.

Is there medication to prevent HIV?

> Yes! PrEP is Pre-Exposure

Prophylaxis (pro-fil-LACKS-sis) that is taken daily. It is 99% effective against contracting

HIV and most people who take it do not suffer serious side effects.

Should HIV+ people avoid pregnancy?

> There are medications that poz pregnant people can take to reduce their risks of transmission. There are real life examples of HIV+ people birthing HIV- babies.

Can cis women become HIV+?

> Yes, any human exposed to HIV positive blood, semen, precum, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, and breast/chestmilk can potentially become HIV positive.

Undetectable = Untrasmissible (U=U)

means that if you are HIV positive and you are taking your medication, you could lower the copies of the virus in your blood enough so that you cannot transmit HIV. When you take your medication as directed, you can get a blood test that shows that you have an undetectable viral load. This does not mean that you are cured of HIV. This means that a poz person could not transmit HIV if they had unprotected sex with an HIV- person. This is only applicable for sexual transmission and is not applicable for things like pregnancy, chest/breastfeeding, or intravenous drug use.