HIV 101: Prevention and testing

As the U.S. exceeds 30 years of AIDS and HIV, the impact of the disease is undeniable. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 1 million people living with the virus in the U.S., and more than 33 million people living with it worldwide. In 2009 1.8 million people died from the disease and there are more than 3,000 people diagnosed in Utah.

“Being diagnosed with it is scary. It’s really, really scary,” Toni Johnson, executive director of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah said.

Practicing safe sex and protecting against the disease is a mindset that can, and should, be done before the moment when the decision has to be made, said Josh Newbury, HIV-prevention coordinator at the Utah AIDS Foundation.

“A lot of us who were raised in public schools got really scary sex ed,” Newbury said. “We heard about all the scary things that can come from sex, but almost nothing about safe sex and harm reduction. But it doesn’t have to be that way.”

When having sex that involves penetration, the safest practice is condom use, which is effective 99.9 percent of the time when used effectively, Newbury said.

When participating in anal sex, the receiving, or bottoming, partner is at the highest risk for HIV infection due to the possibility of tearing and other abrasions, Newbury said. However, the person topping during anal sex is also at risk of exposing himself to the disease. Both partners are at risk for sexually transmitted infections, many of which can be cured or treated.

While oral sex is not as high-risk as anal sex, there is still the possibility for infection if there is an open sore or cut in the mouth, he said. Wearing a condom, even during oral sex is advisable, but not realistic for many. You can reduce your risk by not flossing or brushing your teeth before giving fellatio, and having your partner “pull out” before ejaculating.

“When it comes down to it, some people aren’t going to use condoms; maybe they weren’t planning on having sex and didn’t have one around or maybe they don’t want to,” Newbury said. “In those cases there are other so many safer sex alternatives that can be considered. We need to talk about these as much as we talk about condoms.”

Other than condoms, there are a variety of other ways to lower the risk of contracting HIV while having sex, Newbury said. Toys, hand jobs, massaging, limiting exchange of fluids are all ways to reduce the risk of contracting HIV while still being intimate, he said.

“We can get really creative,” Newbury said. “There are all kinds of safe sex activities that people can think of, probably even more than I can.”

If anal sex is going to be performed without a condom, it is advised to use large amounts of lubricant, which could help reduce the possibility of tears or open abrasions, Newbury said. It’s not a fool-proof solution, but it is a better alternative. And while it is still possible to be exposed to the HIV virus while giving oral sex, the likelihood is less and if the choice is between giving oral or bottoming, oral sex might be a safer alternative, Newbury said.

“And ejaculating outside of the body is always safer than inside,” Newbury said.

The purpose of the UAF is not to intimidate or scare people into having safe sex and the HIV-prevention counselors are well trained to be accepting and helpful, Newbury said.

“When people come in, they can expect to feel comfortable with the HIV-prevention volunteers,” Newbury said. “We train them not to make people feel like they did something bad. Everyone takes risks and while we want to help and educate, there’s no judgment.”

Being diagnosed with HIV or AIDS is terrifying, Johnson said. Coming out to family and friends about an HIV-positive status can be absolutely intimidating, she said. Aside from health factors, the disease can be devastating financially, due to loss of employment or rising healthcare costs, she said.

“Finding that area of comfort, where you can be comfortable with your status can be tough,” Johnson said. “At the PWACU, we offer a variety of programming and avenues of support for people with HIV and AIDS.”

The PWACU has a huge selection of resources, including a writing group, a women’s group, a Latino group and different services such as free haircuts, Johnson said. The PWACU is one of the most valuable resources available to people in Utah who are HIV positive, she said.

“Getting to the point where you can say, ‘Hello, I am HIV positive,’ isn’t easy to do,” Johnson said. “People can expect to find a safe and affirming space here.”

Whether recently diagnosed, or simply seeking testing or education, Utah has a wide array of programs and assistance options, Newbury said.

For more information, go to pwacu.org, utahaids.org and utahpridecenter.org.

HIV Test Sites and Schedules

Utah Pride Center
First Saturday of each month, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m.
361 N. 300 West, Salt Lake City
UtahPrideCenter.org

Utah AIDS Foundation
Mondays, 5-7 p.m.
Thursdays, 5-7 p.m.
Testing will also be offered during the Pride Festival
1408 S. 1100 East
UtahAids.org

Safety Counts
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
154 E. 700 South
801-364-8080 x 273