WOMEN AND HIV: PREVENTION AND TESTS
How to prevent HIV infection
HIV is difficult to catch. Body fluids containing the virus must go directly into your blood or tissues through a break in the skin or body lining membranes such as the lining of the vagina or rectum. These fluids are:
• blood (including menstrual blood)
• semen
• fluid from the vagina and cervix
• breast milk.
The virus has been found in very small amounts in saliva, but there is little evidence that it has been passed on through saliva. Similarly, there have not been any reports of transmission associated with vomit, urine or faeces.
HIV is transmitted through:
• unprotected vaginal or anal sexual intercourse with an infected person
• injection with a needle or syringe contaminated with infected blood
• breast-feeding, which doubles the risk of a baby becoming infected. The risk is less if the baby doesn’t have its mother’s milk for two weeks after delivery. This is because colostrum contains much more HIV than milk produced later.
Prevention seems straightforward. Never have any sort of injection with a needle or syringe that has been used by anyone else, and never have unprotected sex (that is without use of a condom) unless you are certain that your partner is not infected. These are the main risks. Also, we should all follow the habits of general hygiene that protect against the spread of all infectious diseases.
If you do accidentally come in contact with, say, the blood of an accident victim, don’t panic. It’s extremely unlikely that infection could occur under these circumstances, but if you’re worried, talk to your doctor about whether treatment or a test is advisable, even if only to reassure you that all is well.
Any woman known to carry HIV will have been well advised on how to prevent its spread to others and how best to look after her health.
The statisticians of the epidemic would be pleased if we were all tested so that the real prevalence of HIV infection could be known. I believe that such an enormously expensive exercise is at present unnecessary. Most women will know whether they have ever been at risk of infection.
Who should be tested?
If you have the slightest fear that you may have been infected, I would recommend a test so that you’ll know where you stand and not be wracked by uncertainly. Remember that over 99 of every 100 women at ‘high risk’ tested so far have been negative. Reasons for having the test include:
• if you had a blood transfusion between 1980 and 1985 in Australia. If you’ve ever had a transfusion overseas, ask your doctor whether you should be tested
• if you have ever shared needles or syringes
• if you have ever had a sexual partner whom you suspect may have had sex overseas, multiple female partners, any male partners or has ever injected drugs. Blood for the test can be collected by your doctor, any public hospital or at any sexual health or family planning clinic. Before taking the test, read the pamphlets (available wherever tests are done), which explain what the test and its results mean, and how you can avoid HIV. If you have any concerns about the test or whether you should have it, speak to a doctor, nurse or counsellor. You can be sure that any information you give when taking the test is confidential.
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