Despite the huge risk of receiving an immunodeficiency virus, many people do not protect themselves through sexual contact and lead an improper lifestyle. You can be calm only if you have a regular partner with whom you want to have a child. In all other cases, you need to be very careful.
Chance of contracting HIV in a single exposure
If your partner is HIV-infected, even one unprotected contact with him can have terrible consequences. The likelihood of contracting this disease is extremely high. However, most often, infection occurs through a blood transfusion and through breast milk. According to scientific data, the likelihood of contracting HIV with a single unprotected contact is not so great. But definitely not worth the risk. If there are no factors that can increase the risk of HIV infection during a single sexual intercourse, then the probability of infection is only one percent. However, if abrasions, inflammation of the mucous membranes, as well as erosion of the cervix or menstruation in a woman are observed, then the risk increases.
By the way, gender can also be attributed to infection factors . Unprotected sex is much more dangerous for a woman than for a man. It depends on the characteristics of the female body. There are many more dangerous viruses in male semen than in female excreta.
HIV transmission routes
There are several ways to acquire immunodeficiency virus :
- Sexual intercourse. Be sure to use condoms with partners you are not sure about. However, even this does not give an absolute guarantee. Please note that homosexual contacts are considered the most dangerous.
- Transmission of the virus through blood. This is especially true for drug addicts who use a single needle for injection. This route of transmission was the most "famous" in the nineties. Sometimes infection occurs through donated blood. But today you should not worry about this, as modern technologies are able to identify this defect.
- HIV transmission routes can be very different. Do not forget that an infected mother will also infect her baby. In this case, the baby can become infected even during childbirth.
- The virus can also be transmitted through direct contact of damaged skin with a biological fluid, such as sperm, breast milk or vaginal secretion.
Prevention methods
The likelihood of HIV infection is quite high today. Therefore, it is imperative and as often as possible to prevent HIV infection.
Huge attention, especially on adolescents, is provided by preventive information. The more often this problem will be heard, the more people will think about their future. Particular attention should be paid to a healthy lifestyle and avoiding drugs.
A very important and serious preventive measure is contraception. A condom is able to protect against the entry of infected fluids into the body of an uninfected person. Therefore, people who are inclined to search for intermittent partners should always carry protective equipment with them.
Sterilization is a very important step for an infected woman. After all, very often this ailment can go to the baby. Therefore, an infected woman is recommended to visit a gynecologist.
Emergency prevention
There is always a chance of contracting HIV through a single unprotected contact. Using special medications can significantly reduce the risk of illness. If you had unprotected sex, go to the hospital immediately. You will be assigned a special examination, according to the results of which the doctor will prescribe you a course of treatment using drugs. However, in order for such measures to be effective, consult a doctor immediately. This must be done within three days. Otherwise, the medicine may not have the desired effect.
Such treatment is carried out within a month. After which the examination is repeated. Usually, everything works out well, but there are also cases with a positive result. Then you have to take a more detailed blood test. And after that, the doctor will choose the treatment that is ideal for your case.
However, you should not hope that even by contacting a doctor on time, you will protect yourself from irreparable changes in the body. It is better to take care of safety measures in advance. Try to have sex with only one partner in whom you are absolutely sure.
Signs of the disease in women
Very often the signs of HIV infection in men and women are different, but still the first symptom will be a sharp increase in temperature. In this case, you will not notice any signs of a cold or other diseases. Fever is usually observed within ten days. After this period, weakness, cough and migraine will be added to it. In this case, a rash may appear throughout the body. Spots can be a variety of colors and shades.
Very often women lose weight, cases of anorexia are not uncommon. In addition, each meal may be accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Most women begin to complain of painful menstruation. According to doctors, the infection in the female body does not develop as fast as in the male.
HIV: infection of men
The first signs of infection do not appear immediately. Ten days after infection, the entire body may become rash. In addition, the lymph nodes of the cervical and inguinal region will increase in size. After a while, fatigue, loss of appetite and lack of desire to work will be observed. The likelihood of HIV infection with a single unprotected contact increases many times if the sexual partner has a menstruation or a disease of cervical erosion.
If you notice similar symptoms, go to the hospital immediately. The sooner you do this, the more effective the treatment will be. And do not forget about security measures. Only you control your life, so do it consciously.