out about 26 years ago.
In the beginning, from my research, it was a disease that primarily infected homosexual men and injection drug users. I emphasive primarily, not exclusively.
Now, 26 years later, we are seeing a significant growth of HIV in the female
that become infected, the more males will become infected. Just a matter of time. (I am by no means disagreeing with Dr. H or saying that Female to Male tranmission is not considered to be 1/2000). Simply put, the more females that acquire the virus, the more that the ONE in 2000 will show up.
Just a thought.
What is alarming besides the increase in women and men is the increase in "teens" contracting it. It seems that people have let their guard down because HIV is called a "managable" disease. If only they knew what people like myself and others go through not in a week or a month, but a days time. I believe they would think more seriously before having unprotected sex. HIV is not the killer, it's the OI's that are the killers.
I concur with you regarding teens. These teens today seem to think that they are invincible and nothing can stop them. That coupled with the idea that "oh our scientists will find a cure within 10 years". Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Kids now days are having more sex than ever with multiple partners.
Hell, I didn't lose my virginity until I was 19 years old. I hate to say it, but since I joined the Marines and gotton out, I made up for lost time. 36 years old now.
Thanks for your comment Teak.
Just curious about the % of heterosexual white men/women in this country who are HIV + or HIV + and don't know it? I know I have seen some post on the internet from HIV + white heteros but it's few and far between. All I keep hearing is that that demographic is at low risk....Does anyone personally know any white heterosexual men/woman who have aquired HIV from stricly vaginal sex? Just curious?
I have a lot of white friends who have had multiple partners some 100+ and who never have tested positive and don't worry about it nearly as much as I do. I had a one time possibly high risk unprotected vaginal intercourse exposure (not many lifetime partners unlike some of my friends) and worry about it excessively.
-RC
P.S. I am not trying to say white heteros are invinsible but in regards to that specific demographic, especially middle and upper class, it seems like the positives are much more rare than say with hetero minorities.
The answer is yes. I know men and women that are heterosexuals that are HIV+ that got infected by unprotected vaginal sex. The US data on heterosexuals with HIV can be found on the CDC website. You can also follow their links to other countries and see their numbers on heterosexuals infected with HIV/AIDS.
Do you know of any of them that got infected from a single brief encounter?
I don't know what you are calling brief, but the answer is yes. I know guys and gals both that contracted hiv on a one time exposure. As you are well aware, people don't always get infected the first time nor their 10th time. But it's guaranteed that if they continue having unprotected sex with someone that is positive, they will contract it. You can prevent this for fifty cents. Wear a condom.
i would like to add, i come from a culture and area where most people are neive and ignorant abouth how hiv is transmitted and the common belief is that homosexuallity and iv drugusers are at the highest risks. true to some extent, i believe it should not be measured as high vs low risk, rather that risk is a risk.
many friends and others think that heterosexuality is pretty safe. i admit, 9 mos ago, i may have believed that. im much better educated and have been trying to do my part in educating my friends, by casual conversations, i bring up this site, and current cdc guidelines. close friends, i reveal that i was a worried well, and after i tell them i have tested beyond the window, they reply, by telling me that they would rather not know. DANGEROUS MENTALITY.
you have to know your status, not only for you....but for the others that we protect. i have learned through all this. before i leave, wallet, keys, condoms.
even if i go to church,lol. never know.
sorry for rambling. i may not be a ww anymore, but im still here, learning more and more. i want to do more on this fight. be more involved.
your friend
tony