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Dear Counsellor:
My boyfriend was recently diagnosed with HIV. I love him dearly and I really do not know what to do. Is it possible for us to continue having sex without me getting infected by him?
Concerned Girlfriend
Dear Concerned Girlfriend:
Yes, it is possible for you to have sex with your boyfriend who is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and do not get infected. However, there are some precautions that you must take. Bearing in mind that the main route of transmission for HIV is through:
Unprotected sexual contact (oral, vaginal, anal) with an infected person.
Sharing needles with an infected person.
From an infected mother to child during pregnancy, during birth or shortly after birth while breastfeeding.
Therefore, for you to prevent infection, you must use a condom every time you have sex. If you use condoms correctly, you will be protected from contracting HIV. Remember that a condom is the only barrier now available to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Dear Counsellor:
I am presently living with my uncle and his wife who are both HIV positive. I already know that I won't get it from just living with them. However, I am a little curious as to how long HIV can live outside of the body?
Niece
Dear Niece:
In general, the fragile nature of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, prevents it from surviving for a considerable amount of time in the open air. Therefore, the length of time HIV can survive outside the body is dependent on the amount of HIV present in the body fluid and what happens to the body fluid. For example, substance such as hot liquid, soap, bleach and alcohol can destroy the virus. Therefore, if blood were to spill from your family members, simply cleaning the area with bleach would be sufficient.
CONTACT: Phyllis Hall-Clarke
The Ministry of Health
2-4 King Street
Kingston
TELEPHONE: 967-1100-1, 428-6190
