Is HIV/AIDS a preventable disease?
HIV infection is preventable and there is a test to determine if someone is infected. However, since many infected people don’t get sick for years, they don’t get tested and unknowingly pass the virus to others during sex or by sharing needles. If you abstain from sex or don’t share needles, you can eliminate your risk. If you chose to have oral, anal, or vaginal sex, you can reduce your sexual risk by: • Not having sex with more than one partner or with men or women who do. The more partners you have the greater your chance of becoming infected. • Avoiding sex with persons who are known to be infected with HIV and those who share needles or equipment to inject drugs, tattoo, or body pierce. • Not allowing blood, semen, and vaginal secretions from your partner to enter your body through your mouth, vagina, or anus. • Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV. They should always be used during oral, vaginal, and anal
