The Human Immuno Deficiency Virus is more than one type. You and your partner have very different immune systems and you cannot assume you both have exactly the same type of HIV virus. It is possible to get infected with an HIV strain that is more aggressive than the one you have, or with one that might be resistant to the medicines you are currently taking. Either way, becoming "super infected" could indeed have a negative effect on your health.

A blood test can determine whether or not a person is infected with HIV. The most commonly used test detects antibodies (disease-fighting proteins) against HIV. It may take as long as three to six months for HIV antibodies to reach levels that are measurable in standard blood tests.

Studies of families of HIV-infected people have found that HIV is not spread through sharing utensils, towels, bedding, or toilet facilities. Behaviors that increase the likelihood of contact with blood from an HIV-infected person, such as sharing a razor or toothbrush, should be avoided.

It is possible. Oral sex often involves semen, vaginal secretions, or blood -- fluids that contain HIV. HIV is transmitted by the introduction of infected semen, vaginal secretions, or blood into another person's body. During oral intercourse, the virus could enter the body through tiny cuts or sores in the mouth.

Many people who have done the HIV test have been worrying unnecessarily. Getting a negative result (which means you are not infected with HIV) can put your mind at rest. If your test result is positive, many things can be done to help you to cope with the HIV positive result and look after your health. If your test is positive, then A doctor can keep an eye on your health. Many people who test positive stay healthy for several years.

It is possible to transmit HIV to others even when the infected person is not ill. Sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact, and anal intercourse can transmit HIV. Condoms provide some, but not total protection. (Back)

Using such facilities does not put a person at risk for HIV infection. Only activities that cause intimate contact with blood, vaginal secretions, semen, pre-ejaculation fluid, or breast milk of an HIV-infected person can transmit HIV.

The current HIV test - called the ELISA test - was developed in the Spring of 1985 to protect the national blood supply. All donated units of blood are currently tested for the presence of HIV. The test, though highly sensitive, was never intended to be a diagnostic tool. Consequently, a second antibody test was developed, the Western Blot. If a person's ELISA test is positive, the second test is conducted.

The law requires that information relating to a positive HIV test result be sent to the local health department and the provincial or territorial health authority in all provinces and territories except British Columbia (HIV infection became notifiable in Quebec on April 18, 2002). However, HIV infection is not legally notifiable at the national level by any Canadian province or territory.

The answer to this question always seems to surprise most everyone. This HIV FAQ explains why safer sex and condoms are important for everyone. About.com is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation, which promotes reliable and trusted online health information. Manage Your CholesterolWhich Fats Are Healthy?Cholesterol QuizLow Cholesterol DietCholesterol Podcast

Even if you intend to practice safe sex, as an HIV positive person you are required by law (Public Health Act 1991 in NSW) to inform any person of your HIV status and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs), before having sex with them. When the other person has been informed of the risk, they can voluntarily agree to accept the risk.

There are many reasons for a positive person to engage in 'safer sex' and use a condom. Unprotected sex puts a positive person (male or female) at risk of acquiring a non-HIV sexually transmitted disease. (For the positive female, it allows them to become pregnant, and then have to face the risk of infecting their unborn child.) Acquiring an STD for an HIV positive person has many ramifications.

There have been misconceptions that once you are HIV-positive, you can not become reinfected. However, you can become reinfected by another HIV-positive individual or contract his or her specific strain of the virus by not practicing safe behavioral modifications. It is possible to contract a strain of virus that may be resistant to your medication regimen as well as contract select mutations of the virus.

Globally, 45 percent of adults living with HIV/AIDS are women. By region, this percentage varies considerably, from 57% in Sub-Saharan Africa, to 28% in East Asia and the Pacific. In 2004, 17.6 million women were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

HIV can be passed on in both ways because the virus is present in the sexual fluids and blood of infected people. If infected blood or sexual fluid gets into your blood, then you will become infected. If a man with HIV has vaginal intercourse without a condom, infected fluid could pass into the woman's blood stream through a tiny cut or sore inside her body. This can be so small that you don't know about it.

Infection with HIV in this way is rare. There have only been a couple of documented cases of HIV transmission resulting from biting. In these particular cases, severe tissue tearing and damage were reported in addition to the presence of blood. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED

The only way to tell you have HIV is be tested for the virus. You cannot rely on symptoms to tell if you or someone you know is infected. The symptoms of HIV are similar to many other illnesses and many people have no symptoms at all. The symptoms of AIDS are also similar to other diseases. If a person is infected with HIV, the only way to tell if they have progressed to AIDS is to be diagnosed by a doctor using the CDC defined criteria.

People infected with HIV may take 7-10 years to develop AIDS. In developing countries like India, the progression to AIDS may be sooner because of malnutrition and a poorer state of health.

Answer: This depends on the mode of the HIV transmission and the lifestyle of the HIV positive person. Majority of persons who are infected through blood transfusion develop symptoms on an average from 3 years to 5 years. With the other modes of transmission when the quantum of the virus is low, the person can remain healthy for 8 to 12 years or longer.

A person living with HIV (medically known as an HIV positive person) is one who has virus in his/her body. Such a person, remains infected and is presumed infective for the rest of his/her life. However, s/he will appear to be perfectly normal and healthy and asymptomatic for many years. An asymptomatic HIV infected person does not have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Can you help I am a 16 year old and I have never had sex, but recently I took a course of antibiotics and I have developed this dreadful itch and a clumpy discharge. What's wrong with me? I can't go to my doctor I'd be too embarrassed, please, please can you help.

Infection with HIV has no specific symptoms. The only way you can find out for sure if you are infected with HIV is by taking the HIV antibody test. The HIV antibody test looks for antibodies to the virus in a person's blood. For most people these antibodies take 3 months to develop. In rare cases, it can take up to 6 months. It would be extremely uncommon to take longer then 6 months to develop detectable antibodies.

First thing: Don't panic! In the United States, living with HIV is no longer an automatic death sentence. Many people are alive and well who were diagnosed many years ago. Although HIV can be life threatening, and you will have to monitor your physical health and have regular medical tests, there are many things you can do to maintain a normal life. It's important to learn all you can about HIV in order to keep yourself healthy.

If you live in Bermuda you should contact your personal Health Care Provider or the Bermuda Department of Health at 236-0224. Click Here for more information. In addition The Allan Vincent Smith Foundation can help provide you with the referrals and support you need. You should also consider the following guidelines:

There are many things you can do to help protect your health if you test positive for HIV. Seeking health care early and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help a person stay healthy. Some specific things you can do if you're positive for HIV are: See a doctor, even if you feel well. If possible, see a doctor who is familiar with treating people with HIV. Health care providers can inform you on what tests and drug treatment are right for you.

If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. The Health District Office of AIDS offers an Adult Evaluation Clinic at the Ravenholt Public Health Center.

If the condom breaks during sex, the penis should be removed immediately and washed. A new condom should be used if you decide to resume sex.

If either of the partners is infected, consider other activities such as kissing or embracing instead of penetrative sex. If this is not possible, use a condom continuously throughout sexual intercourse and consistently each time you have sexual intercourse.

Most babies born to HIV-positive mothers will not get HIV. But some will. A baby can get HIV from its mother during pregnancy (before birth), during delivery (the most common way babies get infected), and through breast feeding. There is approximately a one-in-four chance of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection without any treatment. But, treatments and interventions exist that have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of infection to babies.