Hill County  Health Department

"Hand in Hand, Keeping Hill County Healthy"

Facts about HIV/AIDS

1. HIV is the virus That causes AIDS. HIV can be passed by:

  • Unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom) with a person who has HIV
  • Shooting drugs with needles or works of a person who has HIV
  • A woman who has HIV can pass it to her baby during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding
  • Through broken skin
  • Through wet mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, vagina, end of penis)

2. Body Fluids that carry HIV

  • Blood
  • Semen
  • Pre-ejaculation or "pre-cum"
  • Vaginal secretions
  • Breast Milk

3. What increases your risk

  • Having any sexually transmitted diseases like Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Genital Warts, Herpes, Hepatitis B or C
  • Having sex when drunk
  • Sharing needles and syringes
  • Having unprotected sex
  • Having many sexual partners

4. How to AVOID getting infected

  • DO NOT HAVE CONTACT with another person's BODY FLUIDS
  • USE male or female CONDOMS with water based lubricant EVERY TIME you have SEXUAL CONTACT (vaginal or rectal)
  • Use a plastic or latex "DAM" for ORAL SEX
  • NEVER SHARE NEEDLES for body piercing, injecting drugs, or tattooing
  • Be MONOGAMOUS with ONE HIVE negative person

5. There are treatments that help people living with HIV stay healthy. Getting tested early will help you get the most from your health care.

6. HIV testing is important for women before or during pregnancy. Treatment can reduce the chance that a woman with HIV will pass the virus to her infant.

7. HIV testing is confidential. We can share your HIV test results with other providers when the information is needed for your health care. The names of people who have HIV and other STDs, like syphilis and gonorrhea, are confidentially sent to the State Health Deportment. This helps the Slate Health Department plan services for people with HIV.

8. If your test result shows that you have HIV, we will talk with you about the need to let your sex and needle-sharing partners know that they should get tested for HIV. Help is available.

9. Your HIV test is voluntary.  We will answer any questions you have about HIV testing.