Dear Counsellor:

My girlfriend and I like to perform anal sex but I'm a little concerned about HIV. We are both uninfected but we believe that if we perform anal sex too often we may develop HIV. Can two people who are uninfected develop HIV if they practise anal sex?

Romantic Lover

Dear Romantic Lover:

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, cannot create itself under any circumstance. The virus has to be present in a person's body and then passed on to someone else. It is important for you to know that HIV does not develop in a person's body of its own accord, like for example, cancer. HIV is a transmissible infection, which is passed on from one infected person to another.

The only known way that a person can become infected with HIV is if he/she performs activities that allow infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids to get into the blood stream.

The main way in which HIV transmission takes place is through unprotected sexual intercourse, which is sex without a condom. So if you use a condom every time you have sex, whether it is vaginal, anal or oral sex, then your chances of getting HIV through sexual contact would be reduced.

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

Dear Counsellor:

What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS? I really need to know because these days one has to be very careful. I don't want to take any chances.

Loving Carefully

Dear Loving Carefully:

I'm glad to know that you are taking no chances and that you are aware that you have to take care of your sexual health. Only you can prevent yourself from becoming infected.

When someone becomes infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, it multiplies and lives in the body. The virus begins to kill the cells, which defend the body from diseases. This can take a long time (months to years).

When most of the cells that defend the body have been killed, the body is not able to protect itself against diseases. The person then becomes sick over a period of months to years and dies. However, many HIV-infected people are living much longer because of the availability of antiretroviral treatment, and psycho-social support.

The difficulty about HIV/AIDS is that you cannot tell by looking, and since you cannot tell by looking at someone whether he or she is infected with HIV/AIDS, you must protect yourself. You can choose to not have sex at all, use a condom every time you have sex, or have sex with only one person who you know will have sex with you alone and who is not infected.

For more information on condom use, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections call the AIDS/STD Helpline at 967-3830, 967-3764 or toll free at 1888-991-4444, or write to AIDS Affairs c/o the Star, 7 North Street, Kingston.