Some Facts First:

Myth: Pulling out before ejaculating will prevent the spread of  HIV.
Fact: The truth, if a condom is not used and one of the partners engaging in unprotected sex is HIV positive the risk for transmission extremely high. A lot of guys while having sex pre-cum which contains the HIV virus. The virus can also be present in a woman's cervical secretions making it possible for her to infect the male or female partner. Even if the male partner pulls out, both people can still be exposed to HIV.

Myth: HIV is the same as AIDS.
Fact: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus while Aids stands for Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a collection of opportunistic infections/illnesses that you can only get if you have the HIV virus in your body. There is a major difference the two, knowing the difference is very important.

Myth: HIV can be transmitted on physical contact.
Fact: While the statement is somewhat true since HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse you will not become infected with HIV if you kiss, hug, sleep, hold hands, share clothes, meals, using the same shower, toilet, or even living with someone that has HIV/AIDS. HIV cannot be transmitted through tears, sweat, saliva or drinking from the same glass as someone with HIV.

Myth: HIV only affects homosexual men, drug users or people who have multiple sexual partners.
Fact: HIV can affect anyone from any race, age, location, socioeconomic status, background, sexual orientation, sex/gender, religion. It knows no boundaries, HIV has the possibility to affect everyone and everyone given the right circumstances.

Myth: My partner and I both have HIV, we don't need protection since we already are positive.
Fact: Having unprotected sex with another HIV positive person after contracting HIV yourself will only makes matters worse for you in the long run. By doing that you run the risk of infecting you or you partner with a different/stronger strain of the virus which may be resistant to one or more medications thus making even harder to treat and control. You can also develop what is known as an HIV Super Infection which is no walk in the park. Continuing unsafe practices concerning HIV just makes it harder to stay healthier longer and makes thing more complicated than they should really be.

Myth: I am HIV positive, I ll never be able to have children.
Fact: While that may have been true in the early days of HIV/AIDS when not much was known about the illness with todays medicines, guidelines, prenatal care, precautions and doctors anyone man or woman can opt to have healthy HIV negative children of their own.

Myth: Any doctor can treat HIV.
Fact: Based on my own experience, it is extremely important to find the “right” health care provider  if ever diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Seek the medical care of someone that specializes in the field of providing health care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Many experts believe that given the complexities of HIV only the well informed, educated and experienced should manage patients infected with the virus.

Myth: HIV can be cured, look at Magic Johnson.
Fact: There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. While there are many treatments available in developed countries like the U.S. that have turned the illness from a terminal life ending tragedy into chronic manageable chronic illness letting the ones affected with it to live normal, healthy, productive lives. While the treatments to prolong life are are there there is still no cure. The governments of many countries and scientist , researchers and pharmaceutical companies are working relentlessly to find a cure but until we understand the virus completely and decode it secrets we are still some time away from finding a cure.

Myth: I am not HIV positive, the disease doesn't affect me.
Fact: Knowledge is power. The more you become educated on the disease, history and future the more you have a chance to make a difference. The disease has effected millions around the world. We as one have all been affected by the virus one way or another.

Myth: If someone is infected with HIV but show no symptoms, they can't pass it on to others.
Fact: People who are HIV positive can transmit the virus even tho they appear healthy or do not seem to have the HIV virus. The AIDS virus on average can take up to ten years to develop into full blown and only in the later stages of the illness will a person show signs or symptoms of the virus. So theoretically speaking someone could go around for ten years thinking everything is fine while infecting many partners even tho they look healthy.

Myth: HIV can go through unbroken skin.
Fact: It is impossible for the virus to go through unbroken skin. If there was a cut on your skin then it would be possible but if you got one of one of the four fluids that carry the HIV virus (blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk) onto unbroken skin on your body the chance that you your self would too become HIV positive is literally non-existent.

Myth: There is no hope for those afflicted with AIDS/HIV.
Fact: Great progress is constantly being made in the treatment of HIV infected people. The science surrounding HIV/AIDS is constantly discovering new things putting us all one step closer to the day when this illness will be a thing of the past. Medicines are getting stronger yet less toxic, new ways to control the virus are in development. People living with the virus can hope for the future and make a difference whereas in the early days of the pandemic the virus was a automatic death sentence, not the case now a days.

Fact: HIV is spread the following ways:

Fact: The only fluids in the body that carry the HIV virus in an infected person are:

More Facts:

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