HIV & AIDS: An Overview
When it comes to your health, knowledge is power. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 6,800 people become infected with HIV every day, mostly due to inadequate access to HIV prevention. By educating yourself and sharing your knowledge of HIV and AIDS, you can take control of your health and future while empowering others to do the same.
Understanding HIV and AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an incurable condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV progressively damages the immune system and interferes with the body’s ability to combat illness. As a result, people with HIV are susceptible to cancers and infections their body would normally fight off, such as lymphoma, pneumonia, and meningitis. AIDS begins during the late stages of HIV, when serious, life-threatening symptoms develop.
Treatments exist that can slow the course of HIV and AIDS, but currently there are no cures. Your best defensive against AIDS is to protect yourself from becoming infected with HIV.
How HIV is Transmitted
HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, preseminal fluid, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. Transmission can occur through sex (oral, vaginal, and anal), blood transfusions, and contaminated hypodermic needles. Pregnant women infected with HIV can also pass the virus to their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Although traces of HIV have been found in the saliva, tears, and sweat of some infected patients, these fluids have never been shown to result in transmission of HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of HIV
Two to six weeks after becoming infected, some people develop a brief flu-like illness with symptoms that range from rash and fever to swollen lymph glands, headache, and sore throat. Some people experience no symptoms at all, and many don’t realize they’ve been infected. In fact, it’s possible to remain symptom-free for many years and transmit the virus to others unknowingly. That’s why it’s important to get tested if there’s any possibility you’ve been exposed to HIV.
Protecting Yourself from HIV
Talk to your partner about his or her sexual history, and use a new latex or plastic (polyurethane) condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex. If you use a needle to inject drugs, make sure the needle is sterile, and don’t share it with anyone else.
Getting Tested
Maybe you’re starting a new relationship and you and your partner have decided to get tested together. Maybe you’re sexually active and have engaged in behaviors that put you at risk. Whatever the case, if you’re at all worried about HIV exposure, getting tested can help put your mind at ease.
You should consider getting tested for HIV if you:
- had sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal) without a condom
- had a condom break
- learned that your partner was not monogamous
- had multiple sexual partners
- have been sexually assaulted
- shared needles or syringes to inject drugs (including steroids) or for body piercing, tattooing, or any other reason
- found out that a partner has shared needles
- learned that a past or current partner is HIV-positive
- discovered that a partner has been exposed to HIV
- had a recent diagnosis of another sexually transmitted disease or infection (STD/STI)
- are pregnant
Confidential vs. Anonymous Testing
- Anonymous testing uses code names or numbers—never your actual name— to identify your test. You use the code to get your results, are the only person who knows your results, and can decide who to tell and when.
- Confidential testing attaches your name and other identifying information to your results, but keeps them private. However, health care providers, your insurance company, and, in some states, the health department, will have access to your test results.
MIT Medical Can Help
MIT Medical offers several resources related to HIV and AIDS, including:
Confidential HIV testing: MIT Medical offers confidential (but not anonymous) HIV testing. To schedule an HIV test at MIT Medical, call 617-253-4481. Testing is free for all registered students, and test results will be returned in approximately four days.
Safer sex supplies: The Center for Health Promotion & Wellness, E23-205, provides safer sex supplies, including condoms, lubricants, dental dams, female condoms, and latex gloves.
Multimedia Library: The Multimedia Library at the Center for Health Promotion & Wellness has books, videos, and pamphlets on HIV and STD/STI prevention and other health and wellness topics. Most materials may be checked out for up to three weeks, free of charge.
MedLinks: Most living groups, dorms, and fraternities have at least one resident MedLink trained to give peer support, information, and referrals on a range of student concerns, including sexual health.
Off-Campus Resources
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
294 Washington Street #5, Boston
617-437-6200 or 800-235-2331
Provides testing and prevention information
Anonymous HIV testing, pre- and post-test counseling
Fenway Community Health Center
7 Haviland Street, Boston
617-267-0159
Walk-in Hours: W, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Fee: none
Return of test results: 10 to 12 days
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
110 Francis Street, Suite G, Boston
617-632-7706
Hours (appt. only): M–F, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $25 in cash
Return of test results: 2 weeks
Confidential HIV testing, pre- and post-test counseling
Massachusetts
General Hospital STD/GID Unit
Fifth Floor, Cox Building, Boston
617-726-2748
Walk-in Hours: M–F, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; M, W, 1 to 3 p.m.; Monday evenings,
by appointment only
Fee: none, donation suggested
Return of test results: 2 weeks
Additional information
Monthly HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report: Issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this report presents statistics on persons in Massachusetts living with HIV and/or AIDS, including year of diagnosis, mode of exposure, gender, ethnicity, and age.
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