HIV Basics

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus that takes over certain immune system cells to make many copies of itself. HIV causes slow but constant damage to the immune system.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a group of related symptoms that are caused by severe HIV infection. AIDS makes the body vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses called opportunistic infections.

Normally, the human immune system is the body’s protection against bacterias, viruses, etc.; it is like a coat of armor.  When HIV enters the body, it starts poking holes in the armor.  Eventually, the armor becomes very weak and unable to protect the body.  Once the armor is very weak or is gone, the person is said to have AIDS.  Germs can then take the opportunity to cause serious infections.  These infections are what make people feel sick, and in most cases, eventually die.  If people do not get any treatment for HIV disease, it takes an average of 10 years to progress from HIV to AIDS.

HIV is transmitted through four body fluids:  blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk.  In order to pass HIV from one person to another, HIV-infected fluid from one person needs to get into the bloodstream of another person.  HIV is usually transmitted through:  sharing needles, unprotected anal, vaginal, and sometimes oral sex, and from mother to infant before or during delivery and while breast feeding.

Becoming educated about HIV and understanding the facts about transmission is the first, and perhaps most important way to prevent the spread of HIV.  It is essential for people to make informed decisions about the level of risk they are willing to take, based on what is realistic for them.

Abstaining from sex and needle sharing is the most effective way for people to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.  However, when abstinence is not an option for people, using barrier protection such as latex or polyurethane condoms (male or female), with a water based lubricant*, is the next best thing.  For oral-to-vaginal or oral-to-anal contact, a latex dental dam or kitchen plastic wrap can be used as effective barrier protection.  If people do share needles, cleaning the needles and works properly with bleach and water before and after each person uses them will help reduce the risk.

*  Note:  Some water-based lubricants (including those already on some condoms) contain a spermicide called Nonoxynol-9.  Many people are allergic to N-9 and the resulting genital irritation can increase the risk of HIV and STD transmission by providing a direct entry point.  You can test for a N-9 allergy by rubbing N-9 lubricant on the inside of the elbow the day before you plan to use the product for sex.  If there is no irritation, there is likely no allergy.

Current HIV antiviral treatments and treatments for opportunistic infections are prolonging the lives of many HIV+ individuals.  However, many of the drugs used to treat HIV are very harsh on the body, very difficult to take, and don’t work for some people.  Research is making great strides toward developing vaccines and better medications for people who are living with HIV, but there is still no cure.

Most people who are taking HIV treatments are taking two or more medications at the same time.  This is called Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART).  It may also be called combination therapy or “the cocktail.” Combination therapy has been found most effective at combating HIV by attacking the virus in many different ways.  There are currently three main classes of medications that are used to treat HIV:  Entry Inhibitors, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nucleoside, Non-Nucleoside, Nucleotide), and Protease Inhibitors.