OK, here goes. HIV is the most dangerous STI simply because there's no cure. It weakens the immune system so that once you've got it, it becomes harder to fight off other infections.
You can be infected with it for as many as 10 years or more and yet appear to be perfectly healthy, meaning you can pass it on to others without knowing. At this time, no one has recovered from AIDS - scary eh?
What are the signs?
Things that you may notice are purplish marks on your skin, unexplained weight loss and diarrhoea, tiredness, fevers and headaches, thrush in the mouth or vagina.
How could I get it?
Like most STIs, HIV can be spread through unprotected vaginal and anal sex, sometimes oral sex. You can also become infected by sharing used needles, accidental pricks with a used needle, and blood transfusions with infected blood (though blood supplies in the UK are screened for HIV).
Consider the consequences of sex and drug decisions. Make sure that you know all the facts and dispel any myths - it's not only gay men and drug users who get AIDS. One thing is true: the only way to find out if you're HIV positive is to take a blood test.
The risk of HIV transmission increases if you or your partner has an STI. You won't always know you have an infection - a check up at a GUM clinic is the only way to be sure. HIV is only passed on if one of you has it. Unless you're absolutely sure that neither of you has HIV - there is a risk.
What can you do to protect yourself?
- Make sure you use a condom every time (that goes for lasses as well as lads!)
- Don't rely on your partner to disclose that they have HIV - it's up to you to take responsibility for your own sexual health
- The more sexual partners you have and you don't use a condom, the more chances that HIV could be transmitted
- Never share needles, works, cookers, cotton, water or other drug gear to inject drugs - you could be injecting HIV directly into your bloodstream
- Don't share personal items that could've been infected with blood such as razors or toothbrushes
