Put on a condom before the penis comes into contact with the mouth or the vaginal and rectal areas.
Carefully take a fresh condom out of the packet (don’t use your teeth to open it).
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome): A disease that weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to other diseases. It is caused by infection with the HIV virus, which is transmitted via blood and bodily secretions.
Cd4 cells (T4 lymphocytes): Cells that manage “watchmen cells” (see immune system). Working together, they patrol the body and look out for intruders. CD4 cells are HIV’s main target: The virus infects and destroys them. When too many CD4 cells have been destroyed, the watchmen cannot do their job properly. Protection of the body is no longer ensured and opportunistic diseases can develop.
ELISA test: (Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay). A blood test that reveals the presence of antibodies fighting against HIV in an organism. It can usually be confirmed by administering a Western Blot test.
Fusion inhibitors: Drugs that protect from infection by preventing the fusion of HIV with CD4 cells.
Generic drugs: Exact copies of brand-name drugs. Generic drugs are as safe and effective as brand-name drugs, but are generally less expensive. A generic drug can be produced only when a brand-name drug’s 20-year patent has expired (with certain exceptions). (See TRIPS)
Cd4 cells (T4 lymphocytes): Cells that manage “watchmen cells” (see immune system). Working together, they patrol the body and look out for intruders. CD4 cells are HIV’s main target: The virus infects and destroys them. When too many CD4 cells have been destroyed, the watchmen cannot do their job properly. Protection of the body is no longer ensured and opportunistic diseases can develop.
ELISA test: (Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay). A blood test that reveals the presence of antibodies fighting against HIV in an organism. It can usually be confirmed by administering a Western Blot test.
Fusion inhibitors: Drugs that protect from infection by preventing the fusion of HIV with CD4 cells.
Generic drugs: Exact copies of brand-name drugs. Generic drugs are as safe and effective as brand-name drugs, but are generally less expensive. A generic drug can be produced only when a brand-name drug’s 20-year patent has expired (with certain exceptions). (See TRIPS)
Everything’s ready now, you can go for it.
After climax, hold the condom firmly onto the penis with your fingers, and withdraw from the vagina, anus or mouth.
Take care not to spill any fluid. Now, take off the condom and throw it in a bin. Never try to re-use a condom.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART): Treatment consisting of a combination of several antiretroviral drugs. They are so effective that it is often impossible to detect the virus in the patient’s blood. If the patient stops taking them, the virus can multiply again. Also called “cocktails.”
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): A virus that infects and destroys CD4 T cells in the immune system.
Immune system: The body’s security network. It employs watchmen (B cells, CD8 T cells and others) and managers (CD4 T cells). Watchmen cells neutralize intruders: B cells produce weapons (antibodies) and CD8 T cells kill infected cells directly.
Immunotherapy: Makes the immune system work better by teaching the watchmen cells to recognize and quickly neutralize an intruder (through vaccination), by recruiting more watchmen cells (using interleukins) or by sending more weapons (through antibody injections).
Interferons: Help shield cells from various viruses. They are produced naturally by the human body or in laboratories for use in drugs.
Kaposi’s sarcoma: A type of cancer characterized by abnormal growths of blood vessels forming purple or brown skin lesions. A newly discovered herpes virus (HHV-8) is suspected to be its cause.
Leucopoenia: To protect the body from harmful intruders, the immune system needs a minimum number of B and T watchmen cells, CD4 T manager cells and other assistant cells. When the number of these cells falls below a certain level, the immune system is highly vulnerable. This dangerous condition is called leucopoenia.
Life expectancy: Before HAART, HIV-positive people were expected to live an average of 10 years. With HAART and other basic care they can stay healthy much longer. But HAART’s side effects can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening conditions such as heart disease (see lipodystrophy).
Lipodystrophy: One of the most common and potentially most serious side effects of some drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS. The signs of lipodystrophy are a swollen stomach and gaunt face, arms and legs. People with lipodystrophy look like those suffering from malnutrition. These signs are associated with high levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood that can cause heart disease. In some cases, lipodystrophy can lead to diabetes.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): A virus that infects and destroys CD4 T cells in the immune system.
Immune system: The body’s security network. It employs watchmen (B cells, CD8 T cells and others) and managers (CD4 T cells). Watchmen cells neutralize intruders: B cells produce weapons (antibodies) and CD8 T cells kill infected cells directly.
Immunotherapy: Makes the immune system work better by teaching the watchmen cells to recognize and quickly neutralize an intruder (through vaccination), by recruiting more watchmen cells (using interleukins) or by sending more weapons (through antibody injections).
Interferons: Help shield cells from various viruses. They are produced naturally by the human body or in laboratories for use in drugs.
Kaposi’s sarcoma: A type of cancer characterized by abnormal growths of blood vessels forming purple or brown skin lesions. A newly discovered herpes virus (HHV-8) is suspected to be its cause.
Leucopoenia: To protect the body from harmful intruders, the immune system needs a minimum number of B and T watchmen cells, CD4 T manager cells and other assistant cells. When the number of these cells falls below a certain level, the immune system is highly vulnerable. This dangerous condition is called leucopoenia.
Life expectancy: Before HAART, HIV-positive people were expected to live an average of 10 years. With HAART and other basic care they can stay healthy much longer. But HAART’s side effects can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening conditions such as heart disease (see lipodystrophy).
Lipodystrophy: One of the most common and potentially most serious side effects of some drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS. The signs of lipodystrophy are a swollen stomach and gaunt face, arms and legs. People with lipodystrophy look like those suffering from malnutrition. These signs are associated with high levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood that can cause heart disease. In some cases, lipodystrophy can lead to diabetes.
Hold the tip of the condom. Squeezethe ring.
Open up the vaginal lips and push the squeezed ring inside.
Neuropathy: Disorders involving nerves. Symptoms range from a tingling sensation or numbness in the toes and fingers to paralysis. About 35 percent of people with HIV have some form of neuropathy.
Opportunistic diseases: Illnesses caused by microbes that are not normally harmful because they can be easily neutralized by the immune system. In HIV/AIDS patients, the microbes proliferate freely and cause diseases such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), Kaposi’s sarcoma, some types of cancers and other parasitic, viral and fungal infections.
P24: The identification badge of HIV. When watchmen cells see it, they know they are dealing with a dangerous intruder. The presence of p24 in the blood allows diagnosis of an HIV infection during the few weeks following exposure.
Opportunistic diseases: Illnesses caused by microbes that are not normally harmful because they can be easily neutralized by the immune system. In HIV/AIDS patients, the microbes proliferate freely and cause diseases such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), Kaposi’s sarcoma, some types of cancers and other parasitic, viral and fungal infections.
P24: The identification badge of HIV. When watchmen cells see it, they know they are dealing with a dangerous intruder. The presence of p24 in the blood allows diagnosis of an HIV infection during the few weeks following exposure.
Put two fingers inside the condom and push the inner ring as far into the vagina as it will go. The whole vaginal cavity should be snugly lined.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP): A life-threatening lung infection that affects people with a weakened immune system. More than 75 percent of HIV-positive people may develop PCP if they don’t receive treatment.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test: A blood test that detects HIV by targeting it directly. It can also estimate the amount of virus in the blood.
Protease inhibitors: Drugs that prevent HIV from multiplying by stopping a tool (the protease enzyme) that the virus needs to reproduce itself.
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nucleoside / non nucleoside analogs): Drugs that prevent the proliferation of HIV in the blood by blocking a tool (the reverse transcriptase enzyme) that the retrovirus needs to multiply itself.
Seroconversion: When a person is infected by HIV, B-cell watchmen produce an antibody specific to the virus, and the person “seroconverts” from antibody-negative to antibody-positive.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test: A blood test that detects HIV by targeting it directly. It can also estimate the amount of virus in the blood.
Protease inhibitors: Drugs that prevent HIV from multiplying by stopping a tool (the protease enzyme) that the virus needs to reproduce itself.
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nucleoside / non nucleoside analogs): Drugs that prevent the proliferation of HIV in the blood by blocking a tool (the reverse transcriptase enzyme) that the retrovirus needs to multiply itself.
Seroconversion: When a person is infected by HIV, B-cell watchmen produce an antibody specific to the virus, and the person “seroconverts” from antibody-negative to antibody-positive.
Ensure that the outer ring covers the opening of the vagina. The top of this ring should be approximately over the clitoris. Guide the penis in through the outer ring. Take care: It is easy to accidentally put the penis outside the condom. After sex, remove the condom by twisting the outer ring and pulling it out gently.
Slim disease: see Wasting Syndrome
Symptoms: Many people do not develop any symptoms when they first become infected with HIV. Some get a flu-like illness within three to six weeks after exposure. Symptoms of this illness, called acute HIV syndrome, may include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin. The symptoms usually disappear within a week or a month and are often mistaken for those of other common viral infections.
T lymphocytes: see CD4 cells and Immune System
TRIPS: Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The TRIPS agreement establishes the level of protection that all World Trade Organization governments must give to the intellectual property of fellow members. It created a system whereby drugs patented in member countries can be copied in other member countries, in exchange for royalties or—if there is a national health emergency—royalty-free. Pharmaceutical companies rarely negotiate this clause for their newer and more effective HIV medication.
Viral load: The number of viruses present in the blood of HIV-infected patients. Viral load indicates the progress of AIDS and the efftectiveness of treatment.
Wasting syndrome: The HIV wasting syndrome involves a weight loss of 10 percent, chronic diarrhea or chronic weakness and fever.
Western blot: A blood test that detects HIV-specific antibodies. If the test is positive, the subject has been infected by the virus. This test is more accurate than the ELISA test.
Window period: The period between infection and detection. Even if B cells start to produce antibodies as soon as the virus enters the body, their level is too low to be detected for at least one month. Antibodies can be detected in the blood through the ELISA test in 99 percent of people three months after infection. A test effected before the end of the window period could show a false result. PCR and p24 tests can detect the virus two to three weeks after exposure.
Symptoms: Many people do not develop any symptoms when they first become infected with HIV. Some get a flu-like illness within three to six weeks after exposure. Symptoms of this illness, called acute HIV syndrome, may include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin. The symptoms usually disappear within a week or a month and are often mistaken for those of other common viral infections.
T lymphocytes: see CD4 cells and Immune System
TRIPS: Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The TRIPS agreement establishes the level of protection that all World Trade Organization governments must give to the intellectual property of fellow members. It created a system whereby drugs patented in member countries can be copied in other member countries, in exchange for royalties or—if there is a national health emergency—royalty-free. Pharmaceutical companies rarely negotiate this clause for their newer and more effective HIV medication.
Viral load: The number of viruses present in the blood of HIV-infected patients. Viral load indicates the progress of AIDS and the efftectiveness of treatment.
Wasting syndrome: The HIV wasting syndrome involves a weight loss of 10 percent, chronic diarrhea or chronic weakness and fever.
Western blot: A blood test that detects HIV-specific antibodies. If the test is positive, the subject has been infected by the virus. This test is more accurate than the ELISA test.
Window period: The period between infection and detection. Even if B cells start to produce antibodies as soon as the virus enters the body, their level is too low to be detected for at least one month. Antibodies can be detected in the blood through the ELISA test in 99 percent of people three months after infection. A test effected before the end of the window period could show a false result. PCR and p24 tests can detect the virus two to three weeks after exposure.
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