How do YOU keep it out?

According to international statistics, 15- to 24-year-olds represent HALF of all new HIV infections worldwide. More than 6,000 become infected DAILY. With over 20 million AIDS related deaths to date and women accounting for 47% of all infected worldwide, it is rare that any of us have been untouched by the AIDS epidemic.

How has AIDS infected your life? Have you taken the precautions to prevent it and if so, do you actively inform others to do the same?

Abstinence is obviously the most reliable way to prevent getting AIDS, but is it realistic for a long term goal? If someone is infected and knows it, but doesn't tell anyone and still has sex, should this person be tried as a murderer? If you're aware that a close friend is knowingly infecting others, what would you do about it? If someone you know has AIDS, what distances and/or precautionary measures would you take to assure you do not "catch" it?

People infected with AIDS are often terrified of being shunned so they may feel forced into secrecy to lead "normal" lives. AIDS is still widely accompanied by a public backlash of ignorance, paranoia and fear. They say you can't get it through saliva but who is to say that they won't find new evidence refuting this in the future? Who can you trust and what do YOU think about AIDS? How informed are you? How comfortable are you with AIDS all around you? What can you do and what are you doing to help?

If you think AIDS doesn't affect you, think again with your eyes wide open...

• Top Ten Myths About Aids
  
• The AIDS Crisis and You
  
• Stop the Spread of AIDS!
  
• SSRISHAD's Adventure to the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok
  
• AIDS 2004 statistics

Review the GROWING statistics, ask your friends and family if they know of anyone with AIDS. Hear their stories. You might be surprised how CLOSE they are to YOU. Then, join in and FACE OFF!

Male condoms are 99% effective in preventing the spread of disease and semen from one partner to the other. But you can get other diseases despite the condom, so it's best to be safe before taking the plunge.

That's your PSA for today.

Yeah, the only way to completely be sure not to get an std is abstinence. and even then there is a chance, (needles, blood to blood contact, etc) but its obvious that people are going to have sex. Those parents (like mine) or educators that refuse to condone the use of condoms or birth control because they feel young people shouldn't be having sex in the first place, aren't helping us. People are going to have sex and many times sexual intercourse is completely unplanned...BUT, at least use a condom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know from personal experience that it only takes once without protection to catch something. You never think that you will, but it has to happen to somebody!!!! Everyone needs to wake up to the fact that kids are gonna have sex at a younger and younger age, and they need to be educated on how to protect themselves!!!!!!
USE CONDOMS!!!!!!!!!! (tho they are only 97% effective and its best to get tested and your partner tested)

That's weird... I could swear I just saw her post here...

By the way jamaica, in case you haven't heard through your vast and detailed health education, HIV/AIDS is not passed solely through sexual intercourse or sexual contact. It can be spread through fluid-body contact (AKA, blood to blood, though rare) or needles. I don't know HOW MANY TIMES I have to say it...

We need to keep young teenagers updated about these things. Since I know many pre-teens seem to be curious about sex and sexuality, they may not know the important facts about it.

i think that it is sad that there are people out there that think that AIDS wont happen to them. it could happen to anyone that has sex. anyone. there are no guarantees. there are ways to stay safe. so why not use them?

I think it is tragic how many people in the US and other developed countries risk their life for sex when it is so easy to get tested. It's not hard to figure out if you have AIDS or not. It's a simple test. We should take advantage of the oppurtunity. There are so many people worldwide, most in Africa, that are dieing from the disease. The myths, the lack of medical treatment, the lack of education about AIDS over there accounts for many of the new cases. However, in America we have so many resources to stop the spread of AIDS and yet we don't. We know its a huge problem and how to prevent it and people openly ignore the solution. I think it's tragic how people don't just use the resources we've been given to stop a global tragedy.

It currently costs $5.00 to get an oral cotton swab HIV test at planned parenthood, and should take no less than 30-45 minutes tops, with a 2 week wait for results. This means that if you OR your partner has participated in riske sexual activities it isn't hard to find out if you are clean, so get tested and get smart.

All right then.

I was not speaking specifically to you.

If you're speaking directly to me, you're talking to the wrong person. I was merely stating that it can be closer than you think-and what you're making it out to be.

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One infected person has unprotected sex with 10 people, they have unprotected sex with 10 more people and so on... Really, it can spread that quickly if people don't realize they have it or another STD or STI

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If you casually engage in sexual intercourse with anonymous persons, then you must deal with the liabilities which accompany your actions. If you love someone or have an intense urge to be intimate with that person, make sure he/she is tested for STDs. It's not that difficult, does not take much time, and will provide some sort of piece-of-mind. If you do not wish to become a statistic, make it your prerogative to know who you are sleeping with.

I repeat, this is not Africa. We have the resources to prevent AIDS. If you want to be a moron, go ahead. Keep your legs open and shut the hell up.

But still, there are 800,000+ cases of HIV/AIDS in America. Maybe it isn't Africa, but it really doesn't take that mcuh to get there. One infected person has unprotected sex with 10 people, they have unprotected sex with 10 more people and so on... Really, it can spread that quickly if people don't realize they have it or another STD or STI. (STD's and STI's increase the risk of HIV.)

If AIDS is coming your way, close your legs and keep your pants up. This isn't Africa.

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Originally posted by fatimajoy:
you better keep your libido under control.... bear in your minds that sex is not all fun and pleasure....

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uhhh for me it has been and ive had sex countless times. Maybe if you stick barbedwire in there i can see how it might not be fun or pleasureable.

Use some damn common sense here, everyone has sex, if it was soooo bad no one would be doing it.

Fatimajoy? THat name alone says "I sleep on my Bible".

What???

This was your first post... and this?

you better keep your libido under control.... bear in your minds that sex is not all fun and pleasure....

okay everyone says they want to help but we are working with what we have we just dont have enough funding it cost ALOT of money just to make one drug and test it. then most people want to be paid and it takes years to find a cure like they say rome wasnt built in a day