HIV Info

Carol froze in fear when her test for the AIDS virus came back positive.

"All I could see was death," the woman says. "I got angry at God. I felt He had forsaken me."

In her panic, she insisted that the man who infected her also be tested.

He did not know he had the virus.

He is not alone. Never be lonely again, even if you have HIV.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 25 percent of the one million HIV-infected people in the United States do not know they are infected. The center also estimates they transmit up to 70 percent of all new HIV infections in the United States.

In response, the center issued a new set of guidelines in September that recommend voluntary HIV screening as a routine part of medical care for all patients ages 13 to 64.

A leading AIDS doctor thinks routine testing makes sense but not without information to go with it.

"The problem is the CDC didn't suggest any counseling," says Frank Graziano of UW Hospital, Madison. "You can't call someone in, tell them they are positive and not counsel them. Even people who test negative need counseling to learn how they can stay negative."

Bob Power of the Madison-based AIDS Network agrees.

"There is a lot of information that people need to understand when undergoing a screening for HIV," he says. "Not having counseling to go along with an HIV test takes an educational opportunity away from patients."

The CDC said busy doctors and nurses cannot offer routine HIV tests if they have to give detailed pretest counseling.

Because HIV testing never has been routine, people who ask for the tests usually have a reason to suspect they may have been exposed to the AIDS virus.

The counseling includes safe-sex information. It warns people who test negative to improve their safe-sex behavior. And it helps prepare people who test positive for what will be a lifetime of medical care.

Diane Nelson, nursing supervisor at the Rock County Health Department, says a number of places in Rock County offers testing, including the Beloit Area Community Health Center in the old Beloit Mall and First Choice Women's Health Center on Burbank Avenue in Janesville.

The health department offers testing for populations at high risk for contracting HIV, including people who share injection drug needles or who have multiple sex partners.

The department used to have a weekly clinic on site for sexually transmitted diseases but had to discontinue it because of a staffing shortage. While the clinic was operating, almost 130 people came in for HIV tests in 2003. The number plummeted after the clinic ended.

Rock County reported 229 AIDS/HIV cases from 1983 through September 2006 and ranks sixth among counties in the state in number of reported cases.

In Wisconsin, more than 1,600 people tested positive for HIV infection between January 2000 and June 30, 2006.

Almost 40 percent were infected for quite a while and developed AIDS within a year of the date they first learned they were HIV positive, state statistics show.

Medical professionals say the findings have important health implications.

When left untreated, eight to 11 years can elapse after a person is infected with HIV until the immune system gets weak and other diseases and infections can enter the body. This stage of HIV is called AIDS.

During this time, a person can unknowingly transmit the disease to others as well as miss out on critical medical care. Early treatment can slow the progress of the disease and help a person stay healthy. People in advanced stages are less likely to respond well to HIV-fighting drugs.

Twenty years ago, a diagnosis of AIDS was a death sentence. Nowadays, new drugs and treatments are extending life spans on average more than 20 years.

"We used to lose two patients a week from AIDS," Graziano says. "Now, we are upset if we lose two a year. Since 1995, we have been able to treat the infection aggressively. At least in this country, the ability to treat HIV has made it a chronic disease for a lot of people."

At one time, HIV-infected patients took up to 50 pills a day. Some regimens today are down to one. Others are reduced to six or seven, but side effects still are a problem.

"For some, there are quality of life issues," Graziano says. "People have trouble with nausea, vomiting, bad dreams and the list goes on and on."

Some patients who were on old medicines don't do well on the new treatments.

The best medicine is still prevention.

"The challenge is getting the message out that this is a totally preventable disease," Graziano says.

"You don't have to get HIV if you do simple things."

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Testing for HIV

Testing for HIV

What is an HIV test?
The HIV test looks for HIV antibodies in your body.

If you have antibodies, your test results will be positive. This means you have HIV.

If you don't have antibodies, your test will be negative. This means one of two things:

-- You don't have HIV.

-- You have HIV, but your body hasn't made antibodies yet.

Rarely, a test result is neither negative nor positive. When this happens, the test must be redone. It usually takes up to three months after infection for the body to make HIV antibodies. In rare cases, it can take up to six months. This period is called the "window period."

What happens in testing?
At the test center:

-- A counselor explains the test and answers your questions.

-- A health care worker will take a little blood from your arm, take cells from the inside of your cheek with a cotton swab or ask for a urine sample.

-- The sample is sent to a lab. In about two weeks, you go back to get the results.

-- Many sites offer a quick test. Results take a few minutes. Positive results must be checked with a second test, with results in about two weeks.

Most test centers provide counseling to help you understand what the results mean and learn how to prevent the spread of HIV.

What types of testing can I have?
-- Anonymous testing means you are the only one who will know your test result. You use a code name or number to get your result. There is no way to trace your name, address or Social Security number with this code.

-- Confidential testing means your name is known and your test result is put into your medical record. In general, your result cannot be shared without your OK. But you should ask who has access to your medical record before taking the test.

A positive test means you have HIV. Positive results are almost 100 percent accurate.

-- If you test HIV positive, find a health care provider who knows about HIV right away. Early treatment can help you stay healthy and can help slow the progress of the disease.

-- Services for people with HIV include help with health care, income, food and legal services.

A negative test means no HIV antibodies were in your body at the time of the test.

-- This may mean you do not have HIV.

-- A negative test might also mean you have HIV, but your body has not yet made HIV antibodies.

-- Get tested again at least three months after any risky behavior.

HIV antibody home testing kits can be purchased at a pharmacy.

-- You mail a blood sample for testing, along with a code name or number.

-- Results are given by phone when you call and give your code.

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HIV - What is it?

HIV – What is it?

HIV is what gets passed from person to person. HIV is not transmitted by saliva. Since the vast majority of researchers believe that HIV is the sole cause of AIDS, we often refer to HIV as "the AIDS virus. HIV is spread through some of the body's fluids. HIV is a big problem for young people, as well as adults. HIV is passed only through direct contact with another person's body fluids, such as blood. Oral sex with someone who is infected with HIV is certainly not risk free. HIV is a virus that weakens the body's power to fight disease.

Find a Youth Friendly Testing Site Please visit the Adolescent AIDS Program's national HIV testing resources for a site in your area. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is the gateway to prevention and treatment and care services. The startling reluctance to seek help in one of the few African nations able to provide it prompted a radical rethinking of how testing is done here. Resources on testing for HIV/AIDS including information about test sites and counseling. Testing for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is essential so that infected individuals can seek appropriate care.

The launch of the testing campaign coincides with the 12th annual National HIV Testing Day, the Washington Times reports ( Washington Times , 6/25). Testing will be FREE, confidential, quick, and painless --“ no needles. In this situation, repeat testing over time may be necessary before they can be reassured that they are not infected with HIV. Testing for HIV infection has complex social, ethical, legal, and health implications. Testing can be made through a regular visit with a clinician or through the Anonymous Testing Clinic.

A crop of vaccine candidates that are capable of inducing robust cellular immune responses garner attention at this year's AIDS Vaccine conference. Yet an effective AIDS vaccine, which potentially could thwart millions of new HIV infections each year, remains a distant dream. A Quebec scientist said a vaccine for HIV could be ready in five years. A major trial into a possible vaccine for HIV has ended in disappointment for researchers. If, on the other hand, an AIDS vaccine is still a distant reality, other strategies for reducing HIV transmission (e. Monkeys given the vaccine did not become infected later, when given a lethal strain of SIV, the simian cousin of HIV. Another barrier in the quest for a vaccine is how to tell whom is HIV infected from who has been HIV vaccinated. Harvard seeks an industrial partner to develop the various vaccine applications, with a specific focus on a clinical stage HIV vaccine candidate. After more than 20 years of intensive research an effective vaccine against HIV is not yet available.

Injection drug use is a major factor in the spread of HIV in minority communities. Health care workers (such as doctors, nurses, and dentists) help prevent the spread of HIV by wearing plastic gloves when working on a patient. Prevention can stop spread of HIV. Another area of concern is the spread of HIV/AIDS related to human trafficking. When the cells become overloaded with virus due to the action of methamphetamine, the immune response can be disrupted, promoting the spread of HIV. But the spread of HIV is not merely a practical problem that enough condoms, drugs and doctors can bring under control. In addition, low literacy levels among farm workers have made it difficult to spread HIV/AIDS messages effectively.

The blog is a unique opportunity for people to witness the battle to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in an African village. It emphasizes the search for ways to prevent the further spread of HIV. Continued efforts to reduce STDs in Thailand and other parts of the world might reduce the spread of HIV as well, Nelson adds. Gonorrhea, one of the sexually transmitted diseases that helps spread HIV, "has all but disappeared. The spread of HIV/AIDS is compounded by the prevalence of other diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) in many parts of Asia.

To prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce its impact, developing countries need to mobilize all levels of government and civil society. The second problem with the claimed relationship between stigma and the spread of HIV is a measurement issue. Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. East Asia is facing the fastest-growing epidemic in the world, due to the rapid spread of HIV. As governments, organizations, and individuals strive to combat AIDS deaths and the spread of HIV, we must all aim high.

HIV is what gets passed from person to person. HIV is not transmitted by saliva. HIV is a virus. HIV is passed only through direct contact with another person's body fluids, such as blood. Oral sex with someone who is infected with HIV is certainly not risk free. HIV is not passed on easily from one person to another, especially compared to other viruses. The most common way to become infected with HIV is through sexual contact. Condoms made from natural membranes, such as sheep gut, aren't as good because HIV is small enough to get through the tiny pores in these condoms. HIV is spread most commonly by having unprotected sex with an infected partner. Positive Singles is a confidential online dating service with free lifetime signup.

HIV is a fairly complex virus, although by no means the most complicated known. And we should always remember that HIV is NOT ONLY free-flowing in the bloodstream but is also found in body organs-liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, etc. Once HIV is in your system, it lowers the number of healthy immune cells that you have to fight germs and infections. HIV is not transmitted via casual contact or kissing. The most common test for HIV is the antibody test (called ELISA). HIV is transmitted through body fluids - primarily semen, vaginal fluids, and blood. The only way to find out whether you have HIV is to have a blood test.

Positive Singles Dating Help

When you have Herpes, HIV/AIDS, or any other STD, it can feel like you are all alone in the world. Positive Singles is dedicated to providing the premier community for anonymous STD dating, friendship and support. Here you don’t have to worry about being rejected just because of something beyond your control. You can share your struggle with new friends, partners or potential spouses who are encountering the same fears. Here you will never feel lonely again!

Today, over 70 million persons are afflicted with STD’s in the U.S. alone, and an estimated 200-400 million worldwide.

The Positive Singles dating site is approximately 4 years old. The founding team’s vision is to build a community for people with STD’s, where they can find friendship, support, and love? When you are newly diagnosed, your whole world seems to have been turned upside down and inside out. There are so many questions that run through your mind: Did my partner know they were infected? Maybe yes, maybe no. Many HSV (Oral and Genital Herpes), HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), and HIV infected people have no visible symptoms. Individuals may not be aware of their infection or the risk of transmission to others and of their bodies developing complications.

Unfortunately, there are those who are fully aware of their condition and choose not to disclose. This is morally wrong, and in some cases, criminal. However, it happens more than we would like to think, and makes it even harder to accept that a chronic disease has been acquired through deception. How do you tell your family and your friends? Do you tell them at all? Will they look at you differently? Will they shun you completely?

Many people are afraid to reach out to the people whom they are closest to. You feel shame, embarrassment, fear, and anger. The stigma attached to people with infectious diseases suddenly becomes personal; the jokes aren’t so funny anymore. You are afraid of losing friendships and your family altogether. This fear can quickly become a reality due to a lack of education. So you retreat inside yourself, and try to overcome the overwhelming feelings that have suddenly taken over your life. Loneliness is a terrible feeling!

Who will want me now? Will I ever find love? How do I tell a potential partner?

These are very tough questions to answer. It is hard to find love in a world where no STD’s exist between partners, some people never find it, and it certainly doesn’t get any easier when you are diagnosed with an infectious disease.

Whether you choose to continue to date uninfected people is a matter of personal choice. If you do choose to do so, you are morally, and sometimes legally, bound to disclose your status. Do not ever take away the right of someone else to make a choice that might have life-long implications for him or her. Many infected people never had that choice, which makes the end results even more devastating. Having “The Talk” is never easy, and full of unknowns and probably even more questions.

Will they accept me? Will they keep my secret forever? Will they tell their friends and swear them to a secret that everyone might eventually be in on? What if we break up? Will they still keep my secret? What if they reject me? Will my secret become public
knowledge? Fears and loneliness can haunt you for a lifetime.

Should I limit myself to only positive partners? Being involved in Positive Singles makes some aspects of dating easier for people with STD’s. Your condition is known up-front, your partner can offer you support based upon their personal experiences. You don’t have the worry of infecting someone that you love. Positive Singles is a place where you can find friendships, support, and even love. You won’t have to worry about being rejected on the basis of your condition. No matter what kind of infectious disease you have, everyone has asked themselves the same questions you have asked yourself, had the same fears of disclosure, and of being alone.

On our site you can post a free profile, and send out free winks. You can become involved in the blog and forum sections, comment on a variety of subjects posted by members, and post your own topics. You can check the Daily Positive News for a variety of STD related subjects; send suggestions to our staff for improving the site.

If you upgrade to Gold Member Status, there are many additional options available to you, such as sending out an unlimited number of e mails and winks, see who has viewed your profile, do a variety of searches including new members, and initiate a private chat
with other members.

We have many wonderful members willing to share their stories, give advice on how to make it through the hard times, and make you laugh. Some of us have overcome the issues, dealt with the hardships, emerged back into the light, and are helping others to follow in our footsteps. Some of us continue to struggle down that road of unknowns. Some of us have just begun the journey. We are a community willing to reach out to others and make this journey together. Won’t you join us? Your friends are here waiting for your emails. Free lifetime signup.

Welcome to the world's best and largest personals network for STD singles and friends. For dating, romance, marriage, friendship and fun! Join us and contact hundreds of thousands of members now! It is fully anonymous! Totally free to place lifetime ads.