HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus is a retroviral agent that causes the immune system of the body to weaken and lead to cause the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is now treatable. Research is being conducted all over the world to formulate a targeted drug therapy for combating this life-threatening disease. No vaccine is available, which renders the world population highly susceptible to contract the infection.

HIV infection spreads from an infected person through contact with certain bodily fluids like blood and semen. Spread from one human being to another is called as transmission of HIV. Mother to child transmission, i.e. perinatal transmission is also common. Healthcare and hospital staff are at a great risk of occupational transmission. Other causes of transmission include sharing intravenous drug equipment, needle prick injury, organ transplantation and artificial insemination. Since vaccination and targeted drug therapy for remission are not available, prevention strategies play an important role in curbing the spread of infection.

A three-level prevention strategy is implemented for HIV infection.

Primary prevention- Activities that focus on prevention of uninfected people being infected.
Secondary prevention- Aimed at the provision of proper health care and behavioral facilities for HIV infected people like lifestyle changes, welfare rights advice, anti-discrimination measures.
Tertiary prevention- Aimed at minimizing the symptoms of an infected person; includes the provision of prophylactic drugs and complementary therapies.
The risk avoidance approach for transmission of HIV infection includes certain measures like practicing mutual monogamy & delayed sexual activity in the young population. Safe and appropriate use of syringes and needles is advised. Unnecessary blood transfusions should be completely avoided. Routine screening of HIV antibody should be done.

Risk reduction approach propagates the mandatory use of condoms during sexual intercourse. Sexually transmitted diseases should be treated to avoid the risk of transmitting infection. Sterile syringes should be used. If blood transfusion is necessary, then blood transfused should be evaluated well to meet the quality standards.

If HIV infection is suspected, anti-retroviral drug therapy should be started.
The only universally approved method of HIV transmission during sexual activity is the use of condoms.
Pharmaceutical methods for prevention and treatment include antibiotic drug therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, anti-retroviral drugs for infected individuals, pre and post-exposure prophylaxis and use of low space dead syringes.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is advised for people who are at a higher than average risk of contracting the infection.
Drug therapy consisting of a combination of Tenofovir and Emtricitabine is prescribed, one per day.
Visit the physician at regular intervals and routine screening is done. Post-exposure prophylaxis is considered to be effective if the treatment is started within an hour of exposure, to effectively reduce the risk of seroconversion. A drug combination of Emtricitabine, Tenofovir and Raltegravir is given.
Social initiatives are undertaken to spread awareness and educate people regarding AIDS. Behavioral change and acceptance of social message is necessary to benefit from the social initiatives. Sex education, LGBT sex education and awareness, safe injection use programs, needle exchange programs, safe sex practice education are some social strategies implemented.
Prevention of transmission of HIV from mothers to children involves anti-retroviral drug therapy during pregnancy and post birth in the newborn child. Breastfeeding is avoided and bottle feeding is advised.

HIV Transmission - How Can It Be Prevented?

Gonorrhea : Disease + Symptoms

Gonorrhea is a contagious disease that can affect both men and women. It is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae that can easily grow in the mucus membranes of the human body.

It is mostly transmitted when an uninfected person gets in sexual contact with an infected person. It can also be spread when a mother's infected body fluids come in contact with her newborn during childbirth.

It is a common infection and the symptoms vary for both men and women. The symptoms are:

Symptoms in Women:

- White or greenish-yellow vaginal discharge
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Pain in the lower abdomen and in the pelvic region
- Occurrence of Conjunctivitis
- Spotting or light bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Bleeding between periods
- Vulvitis

Symptoms in Men:

- White or greenish-yellow discharge from the penis
- Swelling and pain in the testicles
- Burning sensation while urinating

The symptoms come to notice usually within 2 to 10 days of the infection in case of women and it takes approximately 14 days for them to be recognized in the case of men. However in a few cases, the symptoms may take as long as 30 days to appear or they may appear so negligibly that they are hardly noticeable if they occur at all.



Gonorrhea is Contagious. But is it Only Sexually Transmitted?

HIV: QUICK FACTSIntroductionThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a subgroup of retrovirus (lentivirus) that causes HIV infection. After a period of time, this infection leads to what is called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Epidemiology

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2010-2015, the estimated rate of HIV infection in all 50 US states decreased from 14.2 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 12.3 per 100,000 population in 2015. In 2015, 39,513 individuals were diagnosed with HIV infection. From 2010 to 2014, the annual number of new HIV infections decreased by 9%.

Virology HIV-1 and HIV-2 are retroviruses in the Retroviridae family, Lentivirus genus. They are enveloped, diploid, single-stranded RNA viruses with a DNA intermediate.Upon entry into the target cell, the viral RNA genome is converted into double-stranded DNA by an enzyme, reverse transcriptase that is transported along with the viral genome in the virus particle. The resulting viral DNA is then imported into the cell nucleus and integrated into the cellular DNA by a virally encoded enzyme, integrase. HIV contains three retroviral genes, namely gag, pol, and env.

Gag gene: Encodes group-specific antigen; the inner structural proteins
Pol gene: Encodes polymerase; it also contains integrase and protease
Env gene: Encodes the viral envelope, the outer structural proteins responsible for cell-type specificity. Glycoprotein 120, the viral envelope protein, binds to the host CD4+molecule
Pathophysiology

HIV infects vital cells in the human immune system, such as helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophages, and dendritic cells and leads to cellular immune deficiency. This results in the development of opportunistic infections and neoplastic processes.

Mode of Transmission
Sexual intercourse: Unprotected sexual intercourse; especially receptive anal intercourse and different sexual partnersContact with or transfer of blood, pre-ejaculate, semen, and vaginal fluids infected with the virus.Spread from an infected mother to her infant through breast milk. An HIV-positive mother can transmit HIV to her baby both during pregnancy and childbirth due to exposure to her blood or vaginal fluid.

Signs and Symptoms There are 3 categories of infection 

Category A: Asymptomatic HIV infection without a history of symptoms or AIDS-defining conditions
Category B: HIV infection with symptoms that are directly attributable to HIV infection
Category C: HIV infection with AIDS-defining opportunistic infections
Investigation

A high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) should be used for screening.

Management

Start with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in all HIV-infected adults ready to start therapy. 
CD4 count is no longer a criterion for starting the therapy.
Use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors.
For refractory cases, during the failing treatment regimen and before switching therapy, use rapid confirmation, perform resistance testing and reevaluate.

HIV - Quick Facts Need To Know!

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are the infections that spread primarily from unprotected sexual intercourse or any kind of sexual contact. Men, like women, are equally prone to contracting STDs on having unprotected sexual intercourse; anal, vaginal or oral. Having multiple sex partners just increases the risks of it. So, you need to consult a specialist sexologist if anything these sort of things happening to you:

Common STD Symptoms in Men

Blisters on or around penis 

Spots, bumps or lesions on the penis 

Discharge (clear, white, or yellow) 

Oozing from the tip of the penis (thick or thin) 

Painful urination 

Painful ejaculation 

Itching on the tip of the penis 

Rash on the penis, testicles, or groin

Here is a list of STDs for men

Chlamydia- Chlamydia is a type of bacterial STD transmitted during oral, anal or vaginal sex with an already infected person. Some of the symptoms of Chlamydia in men are swollen testicles, penile discharge or pain while urinating.

Gonorrhea- This is another bacterial infection, majorly affecting the urethra, anus or the throat and primarily spreads through vaginal, oral or anal sex with someone already suffering from it. The symptoms are quite similar to those of Chlamydia.

Hepatitis B- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is the cause of the disease Hepatitis B and can cause severe inflammation of the liver. It spreads from one person to the other on coming into contact with the bodily fluids or blood of the person affected. Few signs of Hepatitis B include jaundice, vomiting, nausea, body aches, mild fever, lethargy and appetite loss.

Herpes (Simplex) - It is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and generally tends to develop on or near to the mouth and the genitals. Primarily, herpes spreads through direct contact with the genitals or mouth of a person already diagnosed with the same.

Syphilis- Another bacterial Sexually Transmitted Disease, unprotected oral, vaginal and anal sex are the primary carriers of this disease. It is considered to be one of the most serious STDs because the risks of contracting HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) get magnified once infected with Syphilis.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - In men, HPV is capable of causing cancers in the throat, anus or the penis. It is either passed on through skin-to-skin or unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner.

Preventing STDs

Many people can be infected with an STD without experiencing any visible symptoms. This means that practicing safe sex is crucial if you want to prevent STD infection.

The only way to completely prevent an STD is abstinence from any type of sexual contact or contact with open sores and bodily fluids of an infected person. But there are other ways to prevent STDs too.

Condoms during intercourse and dental dams or barriers during oral sex are proven effective when used correctly. Refraining from sex with multiple partners and instead opting for a monogamous sexual relationship can also help to prevent STDs. To understand it better and get treated you can always consult a sexologist.

Common STDs in Men

Any kind of dysfunction points to the issues experienced during any stage of the cycle of physical issue that prevents the participants from experiencing any kind of satisfaction from the intimate activities. Though the researches imply that sexual problems are common all across the globe; 43% of women along with 31% of men are affected by some sort of dysfunction; however, it is something that most people are hesitant to talk about. But thankfully enough, most cases of sexual problems can be effectively treated, and can be prevented from occurring again, by sharing your concerns with a qualified doctor. You should consider visiting the doctor along with your partner.

What leads to sexual problems?
Sexual problems can be caused either due to physical or psychological reasons. Many medications and clinical conditions can cause a variety of sexual dysfunctions, and these physical conditions include heart and vascular disease, high levels of blood sugar and blood pressure, any kind of neurological disorder, chronic diseases of the kidneys, liver and lungs, and hormonal imbalances. In addition to this, the side effects stemming from any medicine, including antidepressant drugs, can cast a harmful impact on the sexual desire and its normal functioning. On the other hand, psychological causes refer to the stress caused due to work pressures, anxiety, depression, excessive concern about sexual performance, feelings of guilt, and relationship problems.

What are the common sexual problems?
What leads to sexual problems can cause a wide variety of issues in both men and women. While erectile dysfunction is most commonly found in men, vaginal dryness is the most common issue in women. Sexual dysfunction can take a variety of forms, and it is not plainly confined to the dysfunction or simple disinterest in sex, which is commonly termed as lack of sex drive. It can also involve pain while having sex or an inability to maintain the erection or experiencing pain while getting an orgasm. There are some people who experience excruciating pain during intercourse, which is often accompanied with a burning sensation.

All couples have the right to enjoy a happy and healthy sex life, which can be considered a crucial aspect of any relationship. So, if you are having any kind of difficulty that is interrupting your lovemaking, it is imperative to speak with your doctor to get the right diagnosis, and discuss openly with your partner to find out the ideal solution of your sexual problems.

Sexual Problems - Things That Can Lead to It

Oral sex is a form of sexual activity, which involves the arousal of one's genitalia by his/her partner using the mouth (tongue, lips and throat). It is also called Cunnilingus (performed on a female) and fellatio (performed on a male). It is done before intercourse and during foreplay for sexual arousal. It is safe as compared to vaginal or anal sex, the rate of getting a sexually transmitted disease or HIV is comparatively lower. 

Oral sex can spice up your life and can also make your partner reach orgasm. It is also a safe way of getting sexual pleasure without getting pregnant. But necessary precautions must be taken in order to have safe oral sex.

Some of these necessary precautions are:

1. You can get throat cancer from oral sex: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a cancerous virus found in the body of infected people. This virus can be transmitted to the person with whom you are engaging in oral sex. Studies show that people who engage with more than 6 sexual partners at once are more prone to get oral cancer. It is advisable to get your partner tested for HPV virus before engaging in oral sex.

2. Oral sex also causes stress: Oral sex is generally related to hygiene, therefore the partner can be self conscious and worried about his/her genital hygiene. If oral sex is performed on a daily basis, some people prefer to wax their pubic hair often. This is harmful because it can cause red bumps and burning sensation occurs. It is advisable to trim your pubic hair and wash it properly before engaging in oral sex.

3. A condom should be worn by the male during oral sex so that there is no risk of male fluid entering the woman's body.

4. A latex, which is made into a thin sheet called dental dam can be used on the vagina or anus. This creates a thin barrier between the mouth and the genitalia. Hence, chances of getting infected by sexually transmitted diseases are greatly reduced.

Oral sex can be pleasurable and fun, but the risks of getting sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, gonorrhea and crabs is not altogether misplaced. So it is advisable to use proper protection and to maintain hygiene before engaging in oral sex.

4 Ways to Have Safe Oral Sex - Necessary Precautions

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