At this time, there is no cure for HIV. HIV is a virus, and medical science has never found a cure for any virus. This has made the search for a cure for HIV very difficult.

Since this is the current reality, it is important that those people who are not infected with HIV stay negative and those living with HIV/AIDS stay healthy. For people infected with HIV, there are more treatments now than ever before. Some of these treatments are for fighting the virus, others are to treat opportunistic infections that may occur if someone's immune system is compromised.

Most experts believe that an effective and widely available preventive vaccine for HIV may be our best long term hope to control the global pandemic.

Globally, most people who are carrying the AIDS virus live in countries with very limited budgets for health care. This means that in practice, there is little or no money for things like HIV testing, condoms, STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) treatment and prevention. In settings like this, a vaccine would be very cost-effective.

Developing an effective and safe vaccine has proven to be a difficult challenge. A number of leading researchers are working on this problem, but no one knows when anyone will show success.

If you're giving oral sex, or having vaginal/anal intercourse (either giving or receiving) , all 3 criteria are met. Normally during intercourse, there are microscopic cuts and abrasions that occur in both partners where the virus can get into the bloodstream. They can be small enough that you can't see them, but they're big enough for the virus to pass through. Remember, the virus is smaller than a single cell. If you have another sexually transmitted disease (STD) where there are open lesions (herpes, syphilis, genital warts etc.), this makes the viruses entry into the bloodstream even easier.

If you're giving a person oral sex, you're exposed to pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions or menstrual blood. If there are cuts/abrasions in the mouth, or if a person has gum disease, this can allow the virus to get to the bloodstream while giving oral sex. If you're receiving oral sex, you're normally exposed only to saliva, so the first criteria isn't met.

If you're the insertive partner during vaginal intercourse, you're exposed to vaginal secretions and menstrual blood. If you're the insertive partner during anal intercourse, you're exposed to blood.

If you're the receiving partner during vaginal or anal intercourse, you're exposed to pre-cum or semen.

If you're sharing needles (IV, tattoo etc), or receiving a blood transfusion, you're directly exposed to blood.

If you are planning to take an HIV Antibody Test there are a few things you might want to know.

• Test after the window period is over (3-6 months after possible exposure).
• Make sure you have a support network available.
• Testing doesn't protect you from HIV. It's what you do between the tests that protects you from HIV.

The HIV Antibody test is a blood test for antibodies to the HIV virus, not the virus itself. Therefore, the test is not a test for AIDS, just whether you are infected with HIV.

The time period between getting infected with the HIV virus and the time it takes for your body to develop antibodies is called the "window period". For most HIV infected people, it takes 2 to 12 weeks to develop enough antibodies to get a positive HIV test result. Very rarely, it can take up to six months.

If you have had any risks in the last six months, the test you take today may not reflect your true HIV status. For this reason, you may want to wait and get tested at least three months after your last risk of exposure. Waiting out the window period will ensure a more accurate result and help you avoid the need to retest.

 

What Are Antibodies? Antibodies are substances that your body creates to fight infections or "foreign invaders". These antibodies are specific to the infection it is trying to fight off. That is how the body creates specific HIV antibodies that can be found through the antibody test.

If you decide to get tested:

• Be sure you have support while you are waiting for your results, talk to a friend.
• It's normal to experience anxiety while waiting for your results. Your test counselor can help you make an estimate of your actual risk.
• If you decide to tell someone that you are getting tested, remember that they might ask you about your results. If you test positive, you might not be ready to tell them or deal with their reaction. So be selective in who you tell.

If you are leading a promiscuous life, having multiple sex partners , have had unsafe sex in the past , have had unchecked blood transfusion then you ought to have your self tested for HIV.

You can get tested at any prominent diagnostic clinic that offers HIV antibody test.