The human immunodeficiency virus (or HIV according to abbreviationfinder) remains a serious public health problem worldwide, after claiming more than 36 million lives until 2012, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2012 there were about 35.3 million people infected with HIV (the figures range between 32.2 and 38.8 million), says the WHO on its website. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected part of the planet, accounting for 69% of the sick worldwide.
Condoms
The image shows that while the tip of the condom or condom is pressed with the thumb and index finger of one hand (to avoid air remaining inside), with the fingers of the other hand the condom is unrolled until it reaches the base of the penis.
The condoms are latex barriers that prevent contact with semen or blood during your intercourse at the time of penetration (vaginal or anal).
There are different opinions on the use of condoms, but its effectiveness in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV has been shown in several studies.
It is scientifically proven that the human immunodeficiency virus does not cross the latex barrier and that the condom is effective in 97% of cases, in the remaining 3% it can fail due to an error that does not have its causes in the condom itself, but with its misuse, that is, placing it incorrectly or using lubricants that can break it, that 3% margin is a human error that can be reduced to zero if it is used correctly in all sexual relations.
Correct use of the condom
The penis must be removed carefully, taking the condom between the fingers. To the left of the image are the buttocks (bottom) and thighs (top) of the sexual partner. In the upper central part you can see the lower abdomen of the male (with the navel). At the tip of the penis you can see the correct accumulation of semen (without air), and under the fingers you can see the scrotum.
- Carefully open the condom wrapper with your fingers at one edge and remove it.
- Do not use your teeth or scissors, because it could hurt the condom and ruin its ability to avoid infection.
- Rest it on the tip of the already erect penis
- Press the tip of the condom between your fingers to prevent it from holding in air. If the tip of the condom contains air, at the time of ejaculation semen will not be properly accumulated on the tip of the condom, but will run to the base of the condom and could come out (ruining the ability of the condom to prevent semen from entering in contact with the internal tissues of the sexual partner)
- While keeping the tip of the condom between your fingers, gently roll the condom (to prevent air from entering) with the fingers of the other hand to the base of the penis.
- During intercourse, check regularly (every few minutes) that the condom has not slipped away from the base of the penis. If necessary, pull the condom back into place (with the edge at the base of the penis).
- After ejaculation, before the penis loses its erection, grasp the edge of the condom (which should still be at the base of the penis) with your fingers to prevent it from leaking out of the penis and spilling the semen into the partner. sexual.
- Hold the condom by the edge so that it is not inside the vagina or anus.
- Once the penis is out of the vagina or anus, remove the condom from the penis.
- Tie and throw the condom in the trash. Do not flush it down the toilet because the latex will contaminate the river (where the sewer drains) and eventually the sea.
Prevention
Since the XI International AIDS Conference, held in Vancouver in 2011, new perspectives on HIV infection and AIDS have been opened based on two pillars: the use of HIV viral load measurement and new antiretroviral treatment guidelines. These perspectives allow us to be optimistic and to glimpse a light at the bottom of the tunnel. (These pages have been updated over time, they are preserved for their historical perspective value). However, comments are beginning to be heard that may reflect the confusion of the belief that there are treatments that cure AIDS and that it can be misleading.
In the light of current knowledge, there is no antiretroviral treatment that cures AIDS; the potent combinations of three or more antiretrovirals have only been shown to slow the progression of HIV-positive to AIDS and improve their quality of life, which is already a great achievement and perhaps in the future they can be said to cure or chronicle HIV infection; but not yet. Despite the decrease in viral load to levels that are not possible to detect with current techniques, it does not mean that the virus has disappeared or that there is no viral DNA within the genetic material of some cells. Therefore, “undetectable” should not be confused with “non-existent”. It must also be borne in mind that the decreases detected in blood do not have to correspond to decreases in, for example,.
Currently, it is possible to detect the virus by viral load or PCR within a few days of infection (4 to 7 days) and early treatment regimens are being tested to see if it is possible to eradicate the virus in the first moments of infection (a few, 2-3, days after being exposed to a potential source of contagion). However, it will take years to draw definitive conclusions. It is true that HIV infection can be a race against time, but the initial rainfall and the estimates that have been made have often been wrong; therefore, it is best to be prudent and act in the light of current knowledge, which is also evolving very quickly.
For all this, we should all bear in mind that:
Current treatments do not know if they can eradicate HIV even when started early. Here it does not happen as with gonorrhea, a suspicious contact cannot be corrected with a dose of antimicrobials. For this reason, safe sex continues to be the best practice to avoid the possible spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. You cannot say, it does not matter, tomorrow I take the antiretrovirals and it is solved.
Currently, treatments are not sold in pharmacies, they have many side or undesirable effects of varying severity, and they will not always be easy to access. The seropositive, until the contrary is proved, remain carriers of HIV even though their viral load is undetectable. Therefore, they must avoid transmitting the virus to others by adopting or reaffirming safe practices; in turn, they will be able to avoid reinfections.
That AIDS does not continue to discriminate
Against fear, prejudice and discrimination, the practice of solidarity is fundamental. The AIDS is a disease, are infected rights and obligations of all. The violation of these rights violates numerous articles of the Cuban Constitution and the fundamental rights of the human being.
- No one has the right to restrict the freedom or rights of people for the sole reason that these people are living with HIV, regardless of their race, nationality, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
- No person living with HIV will be subjected to isolation, quarantine or any kind of discrimination.
- Every person living with HIV has the right to participate in all aspects of social life. Any action that tends to remove or deprive people living with HIV from employment, accommodation, care, or that tends to restrict their participation in collective activities, should be considered discriminatory and punished by the law.
- Every person living with HIV has the right to continue their civil, professional, sexual and emotional life. No action may restrict their full rights of citizenship.
- All people have the right to clear, accurate and scientifically based information about AIDS, without any type of restriction. People with HIV have the right to specific information about their status as such.
- No one will be subjected to compulsory tests for AIDS under any circumstances. These should be used exclusively for diagnostic purposes, for the control of transfusions or transplants or for epidemiological studies, but never for any type of control of people or populations.In all cases of analysis, the interested parties must be informed by a competent professional.
- Anyone living with HIV has the right to communicate their health status or the results of their tests only to the people they wish to do so.
- No one may refer to the disease of another, past or future, or the result of an AIDS test without the consent of the person concerned. The privacy of the person infected with HIV must be ensured by all services.
medical and healthcare services.
- Every person living with HIV has the right to care and treatment, both provided without any restriction and guaranteeing their best quality of life.
- All people have the right to receive blood and blood products, organs or tissues that have been rigorously analyzed and checked for the absence of the AIDS virus.
