Understanding HIV: What You Need to Know

❗️HIV targets white blood cells called CD4 cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system.

💉HIV is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

🔍Different forms of intercourse have different levels of risk for transmitting HIV, with receptive anal intercourse being the highest risk.

🛡️Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) can effectively manage HIV and reduce the risk of transmission, especially when viral load is undetectable.

🧪Regular HIV testing is crucial, especially for individuals with multiple sex partners or high-risk behaviors.

Is there a cure for HIV?

—Currently, there is no cure for HIV. However, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) can effectively manage the infection and improve the quality of life for individuals living with HIV.

How is HIV transmitted?

—HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, sharing needles, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth or breastfeeding, and blood transfusions with infected blood.

What are the different levels of risk for transmitting HIV?

—Receptive anal intercourse carries the highest risk for transmitting HIV, followed by insertive anal intercourse, receptive penile-vaginal intercourse, and insertive penile-vaginal intercourse. The risk of transmission during oral intercourse is relatively low.

How effective is anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in managing HIV?

—ART can effectively reduce the amount of HIV in the body, maintain CD4 cell counts, and prevent illness. When taken as prescribed and achieving an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is virtually eliminated.

Who should consider getting tested for HIV?

—It is recommended for individuals with multiple sex partners, individuals engaging in high-risk behaviors, and individuals with symptoms suggestive of HIV infection, to get tested for HIV. Regular testing is crucial in early detection and timely management of HIV.

00:00HIV is a devastating sexually transmitted infection with no cure.

08:00HIV targets white blood cells called CD4 cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system.

15:40HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, sharing needles, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth or breastfeeding, and blood transfusions with infected blood.

32:10Receptive anal intercourse carries the highest risk for transmitting HIV.

45:20Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) can effectively manage HIV and reduce the risk of transmission, especially when viral load is undetectable.

56:40Regular HIV testing is crucial, especially for individuals with multiple sex partners or high-risk behaviors.