Protection against HIV
Ways to protect yourself
- Condoms protect against HIVHIVA virus (human immunodeficiency virus) that affects the natural immune system. When someone…Read more and reduce the riskRiskPossibility that something unpleasant may happen, for example a disease.Read more of getting other STIs. Use a condomCondomCovering of thin rubber that a man wears over his erect penis. A…Read more during vaginal sexVaginal sexSex with penetration of the vagina.Read more or anal sexSexAll acts that can sexually arouse you. Sex is more than sexual intercourse.…Read more. Do not take bloodBloodRed fluid that has important functions in the body, for example: carrying oxygen…Read more or semenSemenThick white fluid that comes out of a man's penis when he ejaculates.…Read more in your mouth during oral sexOral sexStimulating someone else's sexual organs with your mouth or tongue. Oral sex for…Read more. Do not swallow it. This makes the risk of getting HIV very small.
- Use only your own or new material for injections.
- 99% of all babies of mothers with HIV, are born without HIV, if the mother takes medication.
- Some people can take HIV medications preventively. This treatmentTreatmentCare and/or follow-up by a professionally trained person. Treatment can be given with…Read more is called PrEPPrEPTreatment with HIV medicines for preventing infection with HIV. PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis)…Read more.
If you have HIV and do not receive treatment, you can infect others with it even if you do not yet have symptoms.
Use a condom during vaginal sex or anal sex. Do not take blood or semen into your mouth during oral sex.
Use only your own or new material for injections.
Take medication during your pregnancy if you are HIV-positive.
In case of emergency
If you have been exposed to HIV, you can take a medicineMedicineMeans of curing an infection or a disease. Antibiotics for example are medicines.Read more called “PEPPEPPEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a treatment with HIV medicines after unprotected sexual contact.…Read more. Take the medicine as soon as possible (preferably within 2 hours and no later than 72 hours). The sooner you take the medicine, the better your chances of not becoming infected. Ask the family doctorDoctorSomeone who is trained to cure sick people. Doctors can prescribe medicines. A…Read more or GGD for help.
Man talks to a health care provider.
PreventivePreventiveWith the aim of avoiding or reducing the risk of having infections, diseases…Read more treatment with HIV medication: PrEP
PrEP is HIV medication to prevent infectionInfectionInfection occurs when a germ enters the body and causes damage. A germ…Read more with HIV. PrEP does not replace the condom because the PrEP pill only protects against HIV and not other STIs. It is extra protection for people who are at high risk of being infected with HIV. With PrEP, you must take 1 pill every day at a set time of your choosing. Men who have sexSexThe biological fact of being a woman (girl) or a man (boy). Sometimes,…Read more with men can choose to take PrEP only before and after sex:
- 2 pills 2 to 24 hours before anal sexAnal sexSexual contact with penetration of the anus.Read more and
- 1 pill 24 hours after first intake and another 1 pill 24 hours later
Before starting PrEP, you must be sure that you do not have HIV. Every 3 months, you should go for a check-up with GGD or GP.
Buy PrEP
You can buy PrEP with a prescriptionPrescriptionSmall paper on which the doctor writes which medicines you have to take. With…Read more from a doctor at the pharmacyPharmacyShop where you can get medicines with a prescription from your doctor. Read more. This is not covered by the healthHealthFeeling physically, mentally and socially well in your environment. Health is more than…Read more insurance company and the price can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.
No further risk of infection
If you take your HIV medicines correctly every day, the amount of HIV in your blood (viral loadViral loadAmount of HIV in the blood. If the viral load is high, HIV…Read more) decreases. After a few months, it can often no longer be traced, though the virusVirusVery small particle that can invade the body. It multiplies easily in the…Read more is still in your body. Then you will no longer be able to pass on HIV to others.
Under certain conditions, it is possible for you to have sex without a condom with your steady partnerPartnerPerson you are in a relationship with.Read more (steady relationship) who does not have HIV:
- If you correctly take your HIV medicines every day, and
- If, for at least 6 months, your viral load can no longer be detected, and
- If your viral load was checked less than 6 months ago;
- If you have no other STISTISTI means sexually transmitted infection: an infection that is usually only transmitted by…Read more and the mucous membraneMucous membraneA very thin layer of skin (membrane) on which there is a thick…Read more of your mouth, anusAnusOpening between the buttocks where faeces leave the body.Read more, penisPenisMale sexual organ. The penis is used for sex (ejaculation) or to urinate.Read more or vaginaVaginaPart of the inner sexual organs of a woman. The vagina connects the…Read more is not damaged.
Talk to a doctor and your partner if you want to have sex without a condom.