HIV/AIDS Information
What You Should Know!

What Is HIV - a virus that attacks and breaks down the body's immune system - the "internal defense force" that fights off infections and disease. When the immune system becomes weak, we lose our protection against illness and can develop serious, often life-threatening, infections and cancers.

What Is AIDS - is the name for the condition that people with HIV have if they develop one of the serious infections connected with HIV, or if blood tests show that their immune system has been very badly damaged by the virus.

It usually takes many years before HIV breaks down a person's immune system and causes AIDS. Most people have few, if any, symptoms for several years after they are infected. But once HIV gets into the body, it can do serious damage to the immune system. People who appear perfectly healthy may have the virus, without knowing it, and pass it on to others.

How Do You Get HIV - HIV can be found in the blood, cum/pre-cum, vaginal fluid, or breast milk of an infected person. An uninfected person can get HIV if blood, cum/pre-cum, vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters their body and gets into their bloodstream. HIV can enter the body through a vein (by IV drug use), the anus/vagina/penis/mouth (by unprotected sex), other mucous membranes (like the eyes or inside of the nose), or any open cuts/sores.

How Do I Protect Myself from HIV/AIDS - The surest way to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS is to abstain from having sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) and abstain from sharing needles with anyone. Using latex condoms/barriers can help reduce the chances of HIV transmission during intimate sexual behaviors. If you are allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms and barriers can be used. Don't share personal items that may be soiled with blood. This includes toothbrushes, razors, needles for piercing or tattooing, and blades for cutting or scarring. The JCSU Peer Educators can provide you with access to condoms, dental dams and lubrication.

What About Testing - There are blood, urine, and oral swab HIV tests. You can be tested "confidentially" or "anonymously." "Confidential testing" means your result will be put in a permanent medical record under your name. "Anonymous testing" means your name is not used. Some states require clinicians to report the names of those with HIV or AIDS to health officials. Follow the link at the bottom of the page to find local testing centers. The JCSU Counseling Center has bus vouchers to provide free transportation to testing sites.

HIV/STD Testing Sites

For more information or to schedule a workshop, call or email the JCSU Peer Educators at 704-378-1044 or ksiebenaler@jcsu.edu.