Being educated about the human immunodeficiency virus and understanding how it is transmitted is one of the first and most important ways to prevent it from spreading. It is important for people to make informed decisions about the risk level they are willing to take, based on what is realistic for them.
One of the best and effective ways to protect yourself from HIV is to abstain from intercourse and not sharing needles with other people that are infected with this illness. However, abstinence is not an option for every person. In this article, you will be able to read about how you can protect yourself from this virus. Let’s take a look:
Safe and Protected Intercourse
If abstinence is not an option for you, the proper use of protection such as latex and polyurethane contraceptive with a water-based lubricant can be the best means for preventing HIV transmission during intercourse. The contraceptives can also provide protection from some STIs and STDs.
PrEP – Taking HIV Medicine to Prevent Infection
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known to as PrEP for short, refers to ant type of treatment that can be taken before exposure to a disease-causing germ to prevent your body from being infected. For people who want to avoid being affected by this illness, PrEP involves constantly taking antiretroviral medicine, also known as ARVs.
The ARVs that have gone through various tests for PrEP treatment are emtricitabine and tenofovir, which need to be taken once a day with a medicine called Truvada. Various studies concluded that when the medicine is taken as directed, it can be quite effective in preventing HIV transmission, and there are usually a few if any major side effects. However, keep in mind that taking this medicine will only protect you from an HIV infection, but, it will not prevent you from being infected by STIs or other blood-borne infections.
You Should Get Tested and Find Out What Your Partner’s HIV Status
You should talk to your partner about getting an HIV test, and if you both agree to do it, you should do it before any intercourse. According to the experts from DTAP Clinic, there are anonymous HIV testing available, which means that you can be tested by using a non-identifying, unique code that you will only know. Also, you can use a testing locator from the CDC to find an HIV testing clinic that is near you.
Do not Inject Drugs into Your System
If you are addicted to substances, make sure that you use sterile injection tools and equipment, as well as water. Keep in mind that you should never share the equipment with other people since that can lead to you being infected by the HIV virus.
Conclusion
The four tips in this article can help prevent yourself from being infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Keep in mind that you should talk to your partner about being tested and if you suspect that you might be infected by this virus, seek medical attention right away.
Nina Smith 
Kim Marks