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FAQs for HIV-Positive Youth
On Being HIV Positive
Q: Where did HIV come from?
A: It was not until 1978 that individuals in the United States started showing signs of what would later be called AIDS. However, evidence suggests AIDS originated much earlier: a virus causing similar symptoms appeared in the early 20th century in central and southern Africa. A recent study by the CDC has found the strongest evidence shows that HIV-1 probably originated in chimpanzees. Researchers are not sure when HIV was spread from chimpanzees to humans, and how this transmission occurred, but estimate it was somewhere between 1920 and 1945.
Q: What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?
A: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). If you're HIV+, that means that you have tested positive for HIV, but that does not mean that you automatically have AIDS. People can live healthily for years with HIV. However, it is important to remember that if you are HIV+ you can transmit HIV to someone even when you feel totally healthy. A doctor's diagnosis of AIDS happens when an HIV+ person's immune system becomes very weak and shows a significantly low T cell (CD4) count (the cells that help to keep your immune system strong) or comes down with an opportunistic infection (a disease that may occur if the body has a low T cell count).
Q: Is there a cure?
A: No, there is no cure for HIV or AIDS. However, HIV is not a "death sentence" nor does it mean that you have AIDS. There is more research being done every day, and there are many medications that help HIV+ people to live healthy and long lives.
Q: When will I get AIDS?
A: There is no way to tell. With the help of recent treatments, HIV+ people have been living increasingly healthy lives, and some HIV+ people have lived for years without developing AIDS. However, it's important to take care of yourself!
Q: What's the deal with the AIDS vaccine?
A: Unfortunately, there is no AIDS vaccine. However, researchers are working on developing a vaccine that would prevent people from getting HIV and on other vaccines to prevent or slow the onset of AIDS in HIV+ people. This wouldn't be a cure; rather, a means of preventing HIV infection. To find out more about the development of a vaccine and vaccine trials that young people can be involved in, go to our HIV Vaccines page.
Q: What types of people get HIV?
A: HIV does not discriminate. Everyone is susceptible, and there is no "type" of person who becomes infected. It is important to remember that it's not who you are, but what you do that puts you at risk for HIV infection. For more information, go to our fact sheet on HIV/AIDS. Young women of color and young men who have sex with men are two populations where the HIV infection rate has been rising disproportionately in recent years.
Q: What can I do to stay healthy?
A: Eating a balanced diet, not abusing alcohol or drugs, keeping in shape, getting enough rest, creating a low-stress environment, and taking your prescribed medications regularly will help you stay as healthy as possible.
Q: Where do I go for help after I test positive?
A: Although it will probably be difficult to think about after you get your test results, try to ask yourself the question "What's next?" Based on your answer, you'll probably end up considering talking to a friend or family member and figuring out where to go for good medical information in order to treat symptoms and/or stay healthy. For more information, go to www.whatudo.org.
Q: How do I deal with my suicidal thoughts?
A: If you're having suicidal thoughts, please call 1-800-SUICIDE (toll-free) where you'll be able to talk to someone who will help you through how you're feeling. Remember that you are not alone, and many people are out there who will support you.
Q: Are there any religious communities that will accept me?
A: There should be! Talk with a trusted person or leader within your religious community. Ask what their thoughts are on HIV/AIDS in general and then, if you're comfortable, consider sharing your status. Many people find that having a supportive religious community can be very helpful in their fight to stay healthy.
Q: How can I talk to other HIV+ young people?
A: Look into joining an HIV+ support group for young people in your area by going to our database. Also, you can join an online List serv for HIV+ young people at Youth Guardian Services. Remember that you aren't alone. If you'd like to talk to someone or find support, please see our resources.
Q: How can I be an activist?
A: If you're interested in being an HIV/AIDS activist, you can look into being a peer educator or an HIV+ spokesperson. Call your local HIV/AIDS organization and see if it's looking for volunteers, or if it has any opportunities for positive young people to speak in the community. Think about joining or starting an activist group in your school or community. Check out other activism opportunities within Advocates' Youth Action Center.
Q: Am I a bad person because I got HIV?
A: No way! HIV is not and should not be a moral issue—the fact that you are living with and fighting this virus does not change who you are. You should not feel guilty that you are positive, and it definitely does not mean that you are a bad person.
Q: Am I going to die young?
A: HIV does not mean that you are going to die, although it is serious and it does mean that you will have to be extra careful to stay healthy and maintain your immune system. People are living longer and longer with HIV, from better medications and a range of additional, alternative therapies. Also, medical researchers are working everyday on finding a cure for AIDS, and even though there is not one yet, it is possible that a cure could be found during your lifetime.
Q: Why does it seem like men transmit HIV more easily to women?
A: In general, the insertive partner is more likely to transmit HIV to the receptive partner than the other way around. This goes for vaginal or anal sex between a man and a woman, and for anal sex between two men. This is true for a few reasons. First, the likelihood of the receptive partner getting tears in either the vagina or anus is far greater than the risk of transmission for the insertive partner. Also, after blood, semen has the highest concentration of virus in it. This helps explain why it is less likely for sexual partners of HIV+ women to be infected from vaginal fluid or breast milk (the fluid with the lowest viral load) than for sexual partners of HIV+ men, even though it is still possible to be infected through unprotected contact with vaginal fluids or breast milk.
Q: Will my family act differently around me?
A: It is hard to anticipate the attitudes and reactions of your family members when you disclose your HIV status to them. Before you even get tested for the virus, it is a really good idea to have some sort of support system in place, so that you are certain to have the support of at least a few friends or family members. Hopefully, your family is knowledgeable about HIV and knows that there is no way for others to be infected through casual contact with you. Hopefully your family and friends will treat you no differently than the way they always have. Your family may have the same concerns you have: your health and well-being and your future relationships. If your family and friends have not been educated about HIV/AIDS, then the only way that they will start to feel comfortable with these issues is by learning about HIV/AIDS. Sometimes people get scared of things that they know nothing about, and once they know all the facts, it will be a lot easier for them to understand.
Q: I want to know more about HIV. What is it doing to my body?
A: The most important thing you can do to keep yourself healthy is to boost your immune system in any way you can. HIV, being a virus, requires a host cell in order to stay alive and make copies of itself. HIV attacks a particular type of immune system cell, the T-helper CD4 cells. Once the T-helper cell is infected with the virus, it turns into an HIV-replicating cell. Since T-helper cells play a crucial role in our bodies' fighting off viruses and bacteria, the more T-cells we have, the healthier we are in terms of being able to fight off infections. HIV slowly causes the number of T-cells we have to decrease, and that's why keeping your T-cell count up is really important, so you don't get other infections that will be hard for your body to fight off.
Q: What do doctors check for at my appointments?
A: In terms of gauging how healthy you are, and how HIV is progressing in your body, doctors mainly check for two things. They will run a viral load test to find out the amount of virus in your body. In general, a high viral load will help determine that your T-cell count may start dropping soon. A CD4 (T-cell) count is also taken by your doctor and tells you how your immune system is doing at that time. The more T-cells you have, the healthier you are overall. If your T-cell count is going up, that's always a good thing. Doctors mainly determine your overall health after considering both your current viral load and your CD4 count.
Q: Can I still have children?
A: Yes. You should be able to make your own decisions about childbirth and parenting now that you have HIV. If you are considering becoming pregnant, you may encounter some people who believe that it is not right for you to give birth as a positive woman, or father a child as a positive man. The reality of this situation is that the choice whether or not to have children is yours. It is a civil right for a woman to make her own reproductive decisions, and this is true for every woman, whether or not you are HIV+. Having a child obviously requires much time, energy, support, and resources, and these are all factors that need to be considered, regardless of your HIV status. It is important, if and when you decide to become a parent, that you are aware of the treatment and risk reduction options available for you and your child. You have the right to be informed of all risks and benefits in order to make the best decisions for you and your child.
Q: Will my child have HIV?
A: If you do not take any medication during your pregnancy, there is approximately a 20 to 30% chance that your child will be infected with HIV. You will want to look into the different risk reduction options available to you to decrease the chance of your child being infected. Heavy doses of AZT during pregnancy and given to the baby for six weeks after birth can reduce the baby's risk of HIV infection as low as eight percent. Generally, having a C-section birth, as opposed to a natural birth, reduces the risk of passing HIV on to your child. Also, positive women are urged to consider the possibility of not breast feeding, since HIV is present in breast milk and there have been cases of children being infected through this method. If you are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant, learn about all the options available to you and your child so that you can make an informed decision.
Updated March 2008
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