HIV and AIDS

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
The virus attacks the body's immune system, which is your defence against infections.
AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection and is life-threatening. People living with HIV may get infections such as an unusual type of pneumonia, or develop skin cancer or other types of cancers.

How HIV/AIDS is spread:
The virus is spread through body fluids such as blood, semen, pre-semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
The HIV virus can also be found in saliva (spit), sweat and tears, but only in very low amounts. These body fluids are not known to spread HIV infection.
To become infected with HIV, the virus must have a way into your body. This can occur during unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, oral) or when needles or other injecting (skin-piercing) equipment are shared. Sharing sex toys can also spread the virus from one partner to another.

HIV can be transmitted from an HIV positive mother to her baby during pregnancy, at the time of birth or afterwards during breastfeeding. That is why it is so important for any woman who is pregnant to be tested for HIV. Ask your doctor about HIV testing.

Personal items, such as toothbrushes and razors can have small amounts of blood on them from bleeding gums and shaving cuts. So even though the risk is very low, sharing personal items like toothbrushes and razors with someone who is infected could spread the HIV virus.
HIV is not spread by everyday social contact. Touching, hugging and shaking hands with a person living with HIV/AIDS are all safe. Insects and pets cannot spread HIV.
Some people worry that they can get HIV by donating blood but this is not true. A new, sterile needle is used every time for every person who donates blood.
Donated blood is always checked for HIV so the chances of getting it from a blood transfusion are very, very low.

Having another STI increases your chances of:
getting HIV from your HIV positive partner or
giving HIV to your sexual partner if you are HIV positive.

How to tell if you have HIV:
A simple blood test can tell you if you have HIV. It is called the HIV antibody test.
A positive test result means that you have HIV.
A negative result means that no antibodies to HIV were found in your blood at the time of testing. Most positive tests will show up within three months of a person becoming infected with HIV.

Lower your chances of getting HIV by:
discussing HIV and other STIs with your partner(s)
considering other things like caressing and touching instead of having sex
both of you being tested for HIV before having sex with a new partner
having sex only with a partner who agrees to protect both of you
remembering not to share items that could result in the exchange of blood, semen or vaginal fluids. This includes injection, piercing and tattooing equipment, sex toys, toothbrushes and razors

If you think you are at risk ...
Please see your doctor or go to your local health clinic for HIV testing if you are worried that you might have HIV. Ask about anonymous HIV testing.
If you have become HIV positive, then your sex partners, or others with whom you have shared needles or other injecting equipment must be told that they also may have been in contact with the virus. They will have to decide if they wish to be tested for HIV.
You might want to tell them yourself, but if you are not comfortable, talk to your doctor or nurse - they can help.
Protect your partners from HIV.
How HIV/AIDS is treated
There is no cure for HIV infection at this time. Once infected, you have HIV for life. Several treatments have been developed that may slow the progress of HIV, but there is no cure.

COULD THIS BE YOU?
"HIV affects only gay guys. As long as I have sex with girls, I'm going to be okay."
DID YOU KNOW
This is not true. HIV is spread by direct sexual contact with anyone who has HIV. In fact, the number of cases of heterosexual transmission (male-female sex) is increasing in Canada and is the number one mode of HIV transmission in the world.