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HIV FAQS

Q. Are there options available to help pay for my meds?

A. Yes, and you should check into every one to see if you qualify before you come out-of-pocket. We always suggest checking with a case manager at an ASO first - they are aware of everything and can make your life easy. If that's not an option for you, look into your ACA plan to see what's covered. Next look into the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) for your state, Disability, Medicaid and Medicare. There are additional options available through pharmaceutical companies Patient Assistance Programs and Partnership for Prescription Assistance. More information and links can be found at: www.hivpositivemagazine.com/how_to_pay_2011.html.

Q. Why are you not supposed to use Vaseline with a condom?

A. Most condoms are made of latex. Viruses, including HIV, cannot pass through latex. Oil-based lubricants like Vaseline, salad oil and hand lotion can damage a latex condom, causing tears and leaks that let HIV through. Use a water-based lubricant like K-Y Jelly instead.

Make sure the condom you use is fresh -- check the expiration date. Open the package carefully. Never re-use a condom, and don't use one that has been subjected to extreme temperatures.

Q. Can HIV be transmitted by oral sex?

A. Yes, but the risk is very low. There have been very few documented cases of transmission of HIV solely through oral sex.

Saliva (spit) is not one of the bodily fluids that transmits HIV. HIV is transmitted by blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. So the risk of transmission during oral sex is greater if you or your partner have open cuts or sores -- the sores associated with syphilis or herpes, for example -- in the mouth or on your genitals.

Unlike HIV, some other sexually transmitted diseases are easily transmitted by oral sex. It's always best to protect yourself by using a condom.

Q. Is the internet a good place to educate myself about HIV?

A. It is, and especially if you don't have access to an ASO or support group. Be sure that the source is a qualified and reputable one. Also try to verify important information with more than one source and make sure you know where the information is coming from because HIV information can differ in other countries. With regard to meds and drug interactions however, we recommend always consulting your qualified pharmacist.

Q. I'm pregnant. Should I get an HIV test?

A. Yes, absolutely. If it turns out that you are HIV-positive, there are steps your doctor can take to reduce the chances that you pass the virus along to your baby.

Q. My partner and I are both HIV-positive. Can we have unprotected sex?

A. If you do, you run the risk of what is called "superinfection." That's when you become infected with a second strain of HIV, which may be harder to control, or resistant to different medications than the one you have now. And, of course, you put your partner at risk for superinfection, too.

Superinfection is not very common, but it does happen. Why risk it? And, of course, by having unprotected sex you are at risk of catching other sexually transmitted diseases.

Do you have a question you would like to see answered in a future issue of HIV Positive! magazine? Please email it to:amuse@phpubs.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2018, Positive Health Publications, Inc.


This magazine is intended to enhance your relationship with your doctor - not replace it! Medical treatments and products should always be discussed with a licensed physician who has experience treating HIV and AIDS!