I Have HIV, How Can I Protect My Partner?
If you have someone in your life that you love very much, the last thing you want to do is make them sick. This can be the scariest factor people in relationships face after a diagnosis of HIV or Aids. Many don't understand that HIV transmission is preventable. However, there are many steps you can take in the AIDS prevention process. The first step in AIDS prevention is understanding how HIV transmission happens. There are rumors that HIV transmission can happen through saliva or the public restroom. That is exactly what those statements are: rumors. In order for HIV transmission to occur, there must be an exchange of bodily fluids or blood. AIDS is not an airborne disease and it cannot be contracted by simply shaking hands.

Methods of HIV Transmission

There are two main types of HIV transmission: through sex and shared needles. When considering AIDS prevention, you must understand that any type of sex, whether it is oral, vaginal, or anal, can lead to HIV transmission. Using condoms can be one method of AIDS prevention, but they are never 100% safe. You need to speak with your doctors about any suggestions they may have for leading a normal sex life. While HIV transmission through needles usually occurs in people with drug habits, any type of needle or puncturing device can cause the transmission. If you have HIV or AIDS and your partner doesn't, you should never share any type of needle, even a diabetic glucose meter. You must also be careful with knives and scissors; if you get cut and your partner then uses the object this could lead to HIV transmission.

Steps Towards AIDS Prevention

There are many other steps you can take towards AIDS prevention. Never share a toothbrush, since gums can bleed and lead to HIV Transmission. You should also use separate tweezers, nail clippers and razors. Any item that can have the partner’s blood on it must be put away and not shared. You can consider using items like Ziploc baggies to quarantine these items. There is no one thing you can do to insure AIDS prevention. The most important thing to understand is that HIV transmission only occurs through blood or body fluids.

Putting an AIDS prevention plan into place does not mean you have to change everything you do. You can still live in the same house and participate in many of the same activities you did before. Preparing meals together and enjoying relaxing activities is fine; you simply need to eliminate activities that can lead to blood or fluids being exchanged. An effective AIDS prevention plan should take into account for accidents or injuries as well. When someone gets cut or injured is not the time to worry about AIDS prevention. Plan ahead, purchase gloves and supplies to care for one another. AIDS prevention means taking all the steps you can to keep your partner safe. It is not an exact science and it does not require a sterile environment. You must simply be careful and pay attention to the things you do.