MYTHS ABOUT HIV TRANSMISSION

I am amazed that so many people in the U.S. and other developed and scientifically advanced areas of the world are still clinging to false beliefs about HIV and AIDS. With that in mind, it is no wonder that AIDS is such a major problem in the under-developed nations, where the people do not have the benefit of the advanced healthcare systems, education, and scientific research that so many in the U.S. take for granted.

I read the following statement on a forum recently. It was written by a user identifying him/herself as being from the United States: "Straight people don't get AIDS".
The person went on to explain in a rather lengthy post that in the U.S. most of the people who are becoming infected are gays and drug addicts. Then, to make it even more disturbing, approximately 1/3 of the respondents to the post agreed with the original statement, although there was some argument from people who were trying to portray the facts and the truth. It kind of makes me think that we're beating our heads against the wall!

The fact is that the majority of HIV positive people worldwide are heterosexual, and even in the U.S. the rates of new HIV infections are increasing most rapidly among heterosexuals (women of color, specifically). Although the rates of transmission between homosexual men in the U.S, which had been down for years, is once again starting to climb (most likely due to complacency and the fact that more effective treatments are available which make HIV a less frightening disease), homosexuals are not the fastest growing group of new infections. Transmission through needle sharing among IV drug users is also way down, thanks to government sponsored needle exchange programs.

I hope that everyone reading this post faces the reality that the majority of people worldwide are heterosexual. HIV and AIDS knows no limits. It can, and does, affect and infect all types of people, irregardless of their sexual preferences. A straight man can infect a straight woman or another man, a straight woman can become infected by a bisexual man, a bisexual man can become infected from a straight woman or a gay man... HIV risk is about BEHAVIOR, not about the LABELS that society puts on groups of people.

Anyone who has unprotected sex or is intimate with another person is at risk. A straight man or woman who has unprotected sex just once puts themselves at a much greater risk for HIV than a gay man who has protected and safe sex with another gay man who is known to be HIV positive.

HIV prevention starts with educating yourself about the facts and then using that knowledge to educate others. Only then can we even hope to stop this epidemic. False beliefs based on discrimination and stigma towards certain groups of people will only hinder or efforts.

WEIGHING THE RISKS OF UNPROTECTED SEX

When it comes down to making choices about using a condom or not, it is very simple:
unless a couple is in a serious, committed, monogamous relationship and the HIV and health status of each partner is known (through recent medical testing), condoms should be used for each and every intimate sexual encounter. Condoms need to be used correctly every time, from start to finish, with no exceptions if they are to effectively prevent infection with sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, or pregnancy.

There really is no "choice" here. Other than abstinence, condoms are the only effective way to prevent infection with diseases which range from annoying and embarrassing to life-altering and life-threatening. Trust in the person and the fact that a potential sexual partner looks healthy has nothing to do with it. Whether you trust a person or not does NOT tell you whether they are walking around with HIV replicating in their body, ready to pass it on to you. The person may look healthy, be active and athletic, and may be the most trustworthy and kind person that you have ever known and still have HIV. Unprotected sex without knowing the facts is always unsafe sex.

As for sex being more pleasurable without a condom, I disagree. An intimate sexual relationship between two people who care about each other is a complete connection, irregardless of a condom. Sensation and pleasure can even be enhanced if the right condom is chosen; the couple should experiment with different high-quality condoms to find one that is mutually pleasurable. There are thousands of couples in the U.S. alone where one partner is HIV positive and condoms must be used throughout their marriage. These people will attest that the condoms do NOT make their sex any less pleasurable.

Those who have the mindset that using a condom robs them of sexual pleasure are playing roulette with their lives. I don't think that AIDS is a very pleasurable thing, either. In this day and age, we don't have a choice in this. It is up to each and every one of us to make responsible decisions if we are to ever stall the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The choices that you make affect you as well as anyone else that you have "pleasurable unprotected sex" with. Do the right thing and use a condom.

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NEW YORK CITY'S OFFICIAL CITY CONDOM

New York City is the "capital" of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the United States, with more cases than any other area of the country. Currently, more than 100,000 people in New York City are known to have HIV or AIDS, and AIDS is the city's third-leading cause of death among all people under the age of 65. During 2005, NY City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene began a massive free condom distribution campaign in an effort to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. The condoms are distributed locally and via the Internet at no cost to the community and to social service organizations.

It is estimated that as many as 20,000 people in NY City alone are HIV positive but are unaware of their status, which puts literally thousands of other people at risk for becoming infected with the virus. Aggressive HIV testing programs and free condom distribution are among the initiatives that have been implemented in NY to help prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. HIV testing is offered free and anonymously to anyone in an effort to identify infection earlier and possibly prevent the inadvertent spread of the disease. Consistent use of latex condoms has been proven to be an effective means of preventing HIV infection as well as most other sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are manufactured according to strict standards, and the minuscule failure rate of condoms has been shown to be mostly due to human error, such as improper size, improper application, condoms not being used for the entire duration of intercourse, or condoms being used with spermicides or oils which cause them to rip and tear.

NY City hands out 18 million free condoms each year for distribution at health clinics, advocacy groups, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, beauty salons, and prisons. That is about 1.5 million condoms each month! It is estimated that the city spends approximately $750,000 per year to buy the condoms. NY City officials are predicting that people would be even more likely to use the condoms if they came in distinctive packages, as marketing experts will confirm that brands and effective packaging work and that people are more likely to use a branded item. They also feel that the use of a memorable package might help them to more accurately conduct health surveys and track the effectiveness of the campaign; if a respondent describes the wrapper, then it is more likely that they have used the condoms.

The NY Post recently reported that NY Mayor Bloomberg is about to unveil the city's own "NY City brand" of free condoms for distribution. The condoms will be packaged in noticeable and memorable foils featuring a variety of different colors representing the city's different subway lines. NY will be the first city in the nation to have its own signature condoms. The condoms will be made of standard, lubricated latex and will continue to be distributed free of charge in order to promote safe sex and prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Of course there has been opposition to the distribution of free condoms by some social conservatives and religious groups who claim that the government is encouraging and condoning sexual promiscuity, but the campaign has been largely well-received by the government and the public.

New York may be the first city to have its own signature condoms, but I can see that many other cities will soon be following in its footsteps. Here In Buffalo, NY I hope that our condoms are packaged in foils with hockey players and Chicken Wings!