JUS’ JASL
It’s the start of the new year and I am pretty sure a lot of y’all got some… cake, sorrel and of course ‘did the dirty’. Afterall, the season is cold, and you will need to do what it takes to get warm.
Interestingly, while we live in society where persons enjoy having sex, a lot of sex, conversations about HIV/AIDS are not openly discussed and the topic remains taboo. Just pause for a minute; when was the last time you spoke to your partner about HIV or any sexual transmitted disease? I am sure you can’t remember so I’ll keep waiting.
The lack of conversations about STIs, especially HIV, has fueled a lot of ridiculous myths. Honestly, I don’t even know how these got started nor do I care. Let’s just agree we are putting them all to rest this year.
Here are 5 myths people tend to believe about HIV.
1.If you have sex with virgin, your HIV will be cured.
What?!!! This is not true, it’s rather ludicrous and dangerous!
It is dangerous to believe that by becoming intimate with a virgin an HIV positive person will be cured. In fact, having unprotected sex with a virgin may lead to that person becoming infected as well, as the virus is transmitted through bodily fluids. There is no cure for HIV, however, HIV medication is very effective, so if you are living with HIV stick to your medication as prescribed.
2. If you have sex standing, you will not catch HIV.
Y’all are quite agile to be having sex standing up, my knees just could not manage.
But this too is false. Whether you are standing, skipping, splitting, in water or under the bed, once you are having unprotected sex, you are at risk. Use a condom to protect yourself and your sexual partners.
3. If you do not ejaculate inside the person then HIV won’t be transmitted.
Best believe I am side eyeing y’all. HIV can still be transmitted through pre-cum (pre-seminal fluid), and rectal and vaginal fluid. Once you enter without a condom, pulling out won’t protect you (OK, see what I just did there.)
4. You can look at a person and know that they have HIV.
Pssh, ain’t this a lie!
By looking at a person, you cannot know for sure that they are living with HIV. Unless someone discloses their status, you may never know. It’s utter rubbish to believe that once someone has rashes and sores, they have HIV.
Let me scream this at you- HIV has nothing to do with one’s physical appearance!
5. HIV can be spread by insect bites.
It’s called Human Immunodeficiency Virus for a reason- it is spread by sexual intercourse with humans, not mosquitoes or any other insect.
Before I go, I just want you to know HIV is the acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus which attacks the cells that help the body to fight infection, making the body more susceptible to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment, and if left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome).
To get tested or treatment for HIV or syphilis visit: https://myhealthja.org/301
or contact Jamaica AIDS Support for Life at 876-925-0021 or any of our social media pages.
*To make a contribution to our blog, contact us at jburke@jasforlife.org
Written by: Jerome Burke & Kijana Williams
Blog Post: #1- January, 7, 2022
#jasl #HIV #myths #safe #safesex #gettested #ORA
