Frequently Asked Questions
What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a disease of the immune system for which there is treatment, but no cure, at the present time. The virus (HIV) and the disease it causes (AIDS) are often linked and referred to as "HIV/AIDS."
How can HIV be transmitted?
HIV can be transferred between people if an infected person's blood or other bodily fluid comes in contact with the blood, broken skin, or mucous membranes of an uninfected person. Additionally, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Can HIV be transmitted by saliva?
No, HIV cannot be transmitted by saliva. Contact with saliva alone has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV, and there is no documented case of transmission from an HIV-infected person spitting on another person.
Do all people with HIV have AIDS?
Being diagnosed with HIV does NOT mean a person will also be diagnosed with AIDS. Healthcare professionals diagnose AIDS only when people with HIV disease begin to get severe opportunistic infections (OI), or their T-cell counts fall and drop below a specific level.
Can I get AIDS from sharing a cup or shaking hands with someone who has HIV or AIDS?
HIV is found only in body fluids, so you CANNOT get HIV by shaking someone’s hand or giving them a hug (or by using the same toilet or towel). While HIV is found in saliva, sharing cups or utensils has never been shown to transmit HIV.
Can HIV be transmitted through an insect bite?
No, Insects can NOT transmit HIV. Research has shown that HIV does not replicate or survive well in insects. Blood-eating insects digest their food and do not inject blood from the last person they bite into the next person.
Can I get HIV from kissing?
No. A person cannot get HIV from casually kissing someone who has HIV. Skin is a good obstacle against HIV. It’s not recommended to be in long, open mouth kissing (“French Kissing”) with someone who carries HIV and one of you has an open wound in or around the mouth area.
Does abstinence include anal sex?
Abstinence means not having sexual intercourse where there is a risk of exchanging fluids (semen, vaginal fluids, rectal mucous). This includes anal, oral, and vaginal sex.
How effective are latex condoms in preventing HIV?
Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing HIV. Research on the effectiveness of latex condoms in preventing HIV transmission is both comprehensive and conclusive.
I had sex with someone I think could be at risk for HIV, and the condom broke? What should I do?
If it’s been less than 72 hours since the condom broke, you may be able to take medication that could keep you from getting infected with HIV, even if your partner is HIV-positive. Call your doctor or your local health department immediately and ask about post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP.
I am diagnosed with HIV; can a healthcare provider tell who gave me the infection?
No. HIV diagnostic tests cannot determine who passed the infection to the negative partner.
Can a woman give HIV to a man during vaginal intercourse?
Yes. If the woman is infected, HIV is present in vaginal and cervical secretions (the wetness in a woman’s vagina) and can enter the penis through the urethra (the hole at the tip) or through cuts or abrasions on the skin of the penis.
Where can I get tested for HIV infection?
Many places provide testing for HIV infection. It is important to seek testing at a location that also provides counseling about HIV and AIDS. Common locations include local health departments, private physicians, hospitals, and test sites specifically set up for HIV testing.
How long after possible exposure should I be tested for HIV?
The time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to seroconvert (test positive) for HIV antibodies is commonly called the “Window Period.” Infected individuals develop antibodies within 12 weeks (3-months).
Aren’t all STDs curable with a shot or a pill?
No. While most bacterial infections are curable with an antibiotic injection or pill, some viral infections (including herpes and HPV) may or may not resolve on their own. HIV is a viral STD that will not go away once you have it. There are currently no cures for these viruses—only treatments.
If I test HIV positive; does that mean I will die?
Testing positive for HIV means that you now have the virus that can cause AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS, nor does it mean that you will die.
If I test HIV negative does that mean that my partner is HIV negative also?
HIV test will only test for your current HIV status. A negative test does not necessarily mean your partner is also HIV negative. Also, it does not mean HIV will be transmitted every time there is an exposure.
How safe is oral sex?
Though, extremely low chance, it is possible to transmit HIV through oral sex. The only way to prevent getting the virus is abstinence. However, the chances of getting HIV from giving oral sex to a woman are lower than giving oral sex to a man.
Are lesbians or other women who have sex with women at risk for HIV?
It is possible for lesbians/bisexual women to get HIV. However, the chances are very low.
What is PrEP?
“PrEP” stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. The word “prophylaxis” means “to prevent or control the spread of an infection or disease.” PrEP is a way for people who don’t have HIV to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. The pill contains two medicines that are also used to treat HIV. If you take PrEP and are exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from taking hold in your body. Along with other prevention methods like condoms, PrEP can offer good protection against HIV if taken every day. However, PrEP does NOT protect against any STD’s.
Can anyone use PrEP?
PrEP is not for everyone. CDC recommends PrEP be considered for people who are HIV-negative and at substantial risk for HIV infection.
愛滋常見問題
HIV和AIDS是什麼？
HIV是人類免疫缺乏病毒 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) 的縮寫，一般簡稱為愛滋病毒。AIDS是後天免疫缺乏症候群 (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) 的縮寫，一般直接音譯為愛滋病。愛滋病是免疫系統的疾病，目前只能治療，無法治癒。病毒 (HIV) 和其造成的疾病 (AIDS) 時常會被連在一起，稱為「HIV/AIDS」。
愛滋病毒如何傳播？
未感染愛滋病毒的人的血液、傷口或黏膜接觸到已感染的血液或其他體液就有機會感染愛滋病毒。另外，感染愛滋病毒的女性可能在懷孕、生產及哺乳時，將病毒傳染給嬰兒。
愛滋病毒能否藉由唾液傳染？
不能。愛滋病毒無法藉由唾液傳染。僅接觸唾液未曾能夠傳染愛滋病毒，目前沒有任何案例證實感染愛滋病毒的人能藉由對人吐口水來傳染病毒。
是否所有感染愛滋病毒的人都有愛滋病？
被檢查出有愛滋病毒不代表有愛滋病。醫療人員只有在病人開始有嚴重的機會性感染，或是T細胞數量低於一定指數才會診斷為愛滋病。
我跟有愛滋病毒或愛滋病的人共用杯子或握手會不會得到愛滋病？
愛滋病毒只存在於某些體液中，只能藉由血液，精液，陰道液，直腸液，及母乳傳染，所以，握手、擁抱、共用毛巾、馬桶都不會傳染愛滋病毒。
蚊蟲叮咬能否傳染愛滋病毒？
不能。愛滋病毒無法透過蚊蟲傳染。研究顯示愛滋病毒無法在蚊蟲體內複製或生存。吸血昆蟲會把血液消化，不會把之前吸的血注入下一個人體內。
我能否藉由接吻染上愛滋病毒？
不能。愛滋病毒無法透過一般接吻傳染。皮膚是阻擋愛滋病毒的優良屏障。如果其中一人口腔周遭有開放性傷口，不建議深吻（法式接吻）。
節慾是否包括肛交？
節慾代表不進行任何有交換體液（精液、陰道分泌物、直腸黏膜）風險的性行為。這些性行為包括肛交、口交及陰道性行為。
乳膠保險套對於預防愛滋病毒有多有效？
如果一貫且正確使用，乳膠保險套對於預防愛滋病毒非常有效。這方面已有全面且確鑿的研究。
我跟一個可能染有愛滋病毒的人性交時保險套破了，我該怎麼做？
如果在事發72小時內，即使你的伴侶已感染愛滋病毒，你可能可以服用防止愛滋病毒感染的藥物。立即聯絡你的醫生或當地衛生局，詢問暴露後預防療法(PEP)。
我被診斷出有愛滋病毒，醫療單位能否告訴我誰傳染給我？
不能。愛滋病毒的診斷測試無法得知誰將病毒傳給未感染的伴侶。
女性能否在進行陰道性行為時將愛滋病毒傳給男性？
能。如果女性已感染，愛滋病毒會存在於陰道和子宮頸分泌物中。病毒會從尿道或陰莖上的傷口進入陰莖。
我能去哪裡做愛滋檢測？
有很多地方都提供愛滋檢測。重點是要找同時提供愛滋咨詢的地點去做檢測。常見的地點包括衛生局、診所、醫院及專門做愛滋檢測的地方。
在可能接觸病毒後我應該等多久才去做檢測？
一個人感染後要一段時間血清才會轉化（測出陽性）。這段時間常被稱為「空窗期」。人體在感染愛滋病毒後十二週內（三個月）會製程足夠抗體使血清轉化。
不是所有的性病都可以用一針或一顆藥治癒嗎？
不是。雖然大部分細菌感染可以由注射或口服抗生素治癒，而某些病毒感染（包括皰疹和HPV）有可能自行痊癒，但是，愛滋病毒是一種長存的性病病毒，只要感染體內就永遠都會有病毒存在。目前這種病毒無法治癒，只能治療。
如果我被測出有愛滋病毒，這是否代表我會死掉？
被測出有愛滋病毒儘代表你體內有會造成愛滋病的病毒。這不表示你有愛滋病，更不表示你會死掉。
如果我檢測為陰性，是否代表我的伴侶也是陰性？
愛滋檢測只能告知受測者當下的狀況。沒測出病毒不代表受測者的伴侶也為陰性。另外，不是每次接觸愛滋病毒都會被感染。
口交有多安全？
雖然機率極低，但是口交還是可能傳染愛滋病毒。節慾是唯一避免傳染的方法。幫女性口交比幫男性口交傳染機率低。
女同志或其他與女性性交的女性是否有感染愛滋的風險？
同性戀或雙性戀女性亦有感染愛滋病毒的可能，但是機率很低。
什麼是PrEP？
PrEP是暴露前預防投藥 (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) 的縮寫。未感染愛滋病毒的人可以每天吃一顆藥以預防感染。藥裡面有兩種用來治療愛滋的成分，所以吃藥時如果接觸到愛滋病毒，這兩種成分可以避免病毒佔據身體。每天服藥，結合其他防治方法（如使用保險套）一同使用，PrEP的保護效果很好。但是PrEP無法預防其他性病。
任何人都能使用PrEP嗎？
PrEP並非適用於所有人。疾病控制與預防中心建議未感染的高危險人考慮採用此預防藥物。