HIV/STI/Hepatitis C Information

What is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV is a virus that only affects human beings. A person develops HIV if the virus gets into his or her bloodstream and begins making more and more of itself, or reproducing. People living with HIV may have no symptoms for ten or more years. They may not even know they are living with the virus. An HIV test is the only way to find out if a person is living with HIV.

Once a person is living with HIV, it will attack the body’s defense system, known as the immune system. Without treatment, most people living with HIV become unable to fight off germs and other viruses so they can become very sick.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a late stage of HIV disease. According to the CDC, a person living with HIV has AIDS when he or she:

• has a very weakened defense system (CD4 level <200) or

• develops a serious illness that we know can be caused by HIV.

Are the symptoms of HIV?

Some people have flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after infection (called acute HIV infection). These symptoms may last for a few days or several weeks. Possible symptoms include:

• Fever,
• Chills,
• Rash,
• Night sweats,
• Muscle aches,
• Sore throat,
• Fatigue,
• Swollen lymph nodes, and
• Mouth ulcers.

But some people may not feel sick during acute HIV infection. These symptoms don’t mean you have HIV. Other illnesses can cause these same symptoms.

How is HIV transmitted?

• Anal/vaginal intercourse
• Sharing needles, syringes, drug injection equipment (for example, cookers), or other injection equipments
• perinatal transmission (mother-to-child)

What body fluids transmit HIV?

• blood
• semen (cum)
• pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
• rectal fluids
• vaginal fluids
• breast milk

These fluids must come in contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into the bloodstream for transmission to occur.

What are the ways that HIV cannot be transmitted?

HIV is not passed through casual contact or by being near a person with HIV. It cannot be transmitted through saliva, shaking hands, kissing, mosquito bites, living in the same house as someone living with HIV (including sharing utensils or drinking cups), using restrooms, swimming pools, hot tubs, or drinking fountains. Through other sexual activities that don’t involve the exchange of body fluids (for example, touching), or through the air.

How to prevent HIV?

• Not sharing injection equipment (needle, syringe, cooker, cotton, etc.)
• Having only one monogamous sex partner whose HIV status is known to be negative. If you have sex with more than one partner, consistent and correct use of condoms every time you have sex can prevent HIV infection. If you do not always practice safer sex or injecting practices, PrEP may be an option for you.
• If you have a partner who is living with HIV, if he or she is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load (i.e. the person is virally suppressed), for 6 months and beyond the risk of transmission through sex is negligible.
• Using a condom consistently and correctly every time you have sex is extremely effective in preventing HIV
• Getting routine HIV testing

What is PrEP?

PrEPis a pill for HIV negative individuals that can be taken to prevent HIV. When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV by 92-99%. People wishing to take PrEP need to see their healthcare provider for a prescription, and follow up with testing every 3 months.

What is the difference between daily PrEP and On-Demand-PrEP?

Daily PrEP involves people of any gender identity (cis-gender man, cis-gender woman or transgender man or woman) taking 1 pill once a day, every day.

On-demand PrEP is only for cis-gender men who have sex with men (MSM). On-demand PrEP involves taking 2 pills, 2-24 hours before a possible sexual exposure to HIV and then continuing to take 1 pill each day until 2 days after their last possible sexual exposure.

It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about whether daily PrEP or on-demand PrEP is right for you.

What is PEP?

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis); involves taking a combination of HIV medicines for 28 days after a potential exposure to HIV. PEP must be taken within the next 72 hours and is only for people who are HIV negative.

If you think you were exposed to HIV, talk to a medical professional about PEP as soon as possible.  Call the NYS or NYC PEP hotline:

 Outside NYC: 844-PEP4NOW (844-737-4669)

 In NYC: 844-3-PEPNYC (844-373-7692)

How is PEP different from PrEP?

PrEP and PEP are both forms of HIV prevention for people who are HIV-negative. A big difference between PrEP and PEP is that PrEP is taken before potential exposure, while PEP is taken after possible exposure to HIV. While PEP is prescribed in emergency situations and should be taken within 36-72 hours of exposure, PrEP is a pill that people can take to protect themselves against HIV if they think they will be exposed to HIV.

How do I know if I have HIV?

The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your HIV status helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV.

Is there a cure for HIV?

There is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, you can control HIV

What is HIV treatment?

HIV treatment involves taking medicine that reduces the amount of HIV in your body.

• HIV medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• HIV medicine is recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are.

What are the benefits of taking HIV medicine every day as prescribed?

Treatment Reduces the Amount of HIV in the Blood

• The amount of HIV in the blood is called viral load.
• Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed will help keep your viral load low and your CD4 cell count high.

Treatment Helps Prevent Transmission to Others

• If you have an undetectable viral load, you have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex.

Taking Treatment as Prescribed Helps Prevent Drug Resistance

• Drug resistance develops when people with HIV are inconsistent with taking their HIV medication as prescribed. The virus can change (mutate) and will no longer respond to certain HIV medication.
• If you develop drug resistance, it will limit your options for successful HIV treatment.

For more information on HIV or to get general information on HIV prevention, treatment, or testing contact an H Line counselor. Visit the online resource database to find HIV related resources.

Why STI not STD?

The word “disease” suggests noticeable medical problems, while many of the most common sexually transmitted infections have no signs or symptoms, or they are very mild. Even with no signs or symptoms, STIs can cause serious health problems, so it is still necessary to get tested and treated for STIs.

What is an STI?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are spread by sexual contact like vaginal intercourse, oral sex, anal sex or sometimes intimate skin-to-skin contact.

STIs are very common and easily spread. Some STIs can be treated and cured, but others cannot be cured. Some common STIs are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, HPV and HIV.

What causes STIs?

STIs are caused by infections with bacteria or viruses. STIs caused by bacteria are treated with antibiotics. STIs caused by viruses cannot be cured, but symptoms can be treated. Even if there are no symptoms, tests can be done to diagnose infection. Testing will help you know if you have an STI so you can take steps to prevent passing it to others.

Bacterial infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Viral infections include human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes (HSV or herpes simplex virus), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and Hepatitis B

How are STIs transmitted?

Anyone who has sexual contact with another person is at risk of getting an STI. Some STIs cause symptoms and others do not. A person with an STI can pass it to others through contact with skin, genitals, mouth, rectum, or body fluids. This includes contact through vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex. Even if there are no symptoms, your health can be affected.

What are the symptoms of STIs?

Symptoms can range from vaginal discharge and mild irritation to severe pain. Often, symptoms occur only if the infection has gone on for a while. In most cases, long-term health problems can be avoided with early treatment.

How are STIs prevented?

• Know your sexual partners—The more partners you or your partners have, the higher your risk of getting an STI.
• Use a latex or polyurethane condom—Using a latex or polyurethane condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex reduces the risk of infection.
• Know that some sex practices increase the risk— Sexual acts that tear or break the skin carry a higher risk of STIs. Anal sex poses a high risk because tissues in the rectum break easily. Body fluids also can carry STIs. Having any unprotected sexual contact with an infected person poses a high risk of getting an STI.
• Vaccination—Vaccines are available to help protect against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV).

*STIs are 100 percent preventable through abstinence from oral, vaginal and anal sex*

For more information on STIs or to get general information on STI prevention, treatment, or testing contact an H Line counselor. Visit the online resource database to find STI testing locations.

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. HCV is acquired through the blood. About a fifth of the people who get the virus (called “acute hepatitis C infection”) clear it from their bodies without needing treatment, and sometimes without getting any symptoms. If the infection lasts for longer than six months it is called “chronic hepatitis C infection” and treatment may be needed.

How is hepatitis C transmitted?

The HCV virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person.

This can happen through:

• Sharing drug-injection equipment or other injection equipment’s
• Birth
• Healthcare exposures
• Sex with an infected person. While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men. 
• Unregulated tattoos or body piercings.
• Sharing personal items. People can get infected from sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see.
• Blood transfusions and organ transplants

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?

Many people with HCV do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur, they usually appear within 2 to12 weeks, but can take up to 6 months to develop. Common HCV symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Feeling tired
• Not wanting to eat
• Upset stomach
• Throwing up
• Dark urine,
• Pale-colored stool
• Joint pain
• Yellowing of the skin and eye

How can hepatitis C be prevented?

Although there is no vaccine to prevent HCV, there are ways to reduce the risk of becoming infected.

• Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances.
• Do not use personal items that may have come into contact with an infected person’s blood, even in amounts too small to see, such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
• Do not get tattoos or body piercings from an unlicensed facility or in an informal setting.
• Practice safer sex. Hep C can also be spread through sex, although not as easily as through injection drug use. If you are a man who has sex with men with HIV, you are at a risk of getting hep C during sex. Make sure you use condoms and lots of lube during sex to prevent bleeding. Get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and if you test positive, start treatment right away.

How do I know if I have hepatitis c?

A blood test or a rapid HCV antibody test can tell if you have been infected with the HCV virus—either recently or in the past. If you have a positive antibody test, another blood test is needed to tell if you are still infected or if you were infected in the past and cleared the virus on your own.

Who should get tested for Hepatitis C?

CDC recommends you get tested for hepatitis C if you:

• Are 18 years of age and older
•  Are pregnant (get tested during each pregnancy)
• Currently inject drugs (get tested regularly)
• Have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
• Men who have sex with Men (MSM)
•  Have HIV
•  Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
• Are on hemodialysis
• Received donated blood or organs before July 1992
• Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987
• Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C
• Were born to a mother with hepatitis C

Is There a Cure for Hepatitis C?

Yes, HCV treatment can cure most people with HCV in 8 to 12 weeks.

For more information on Hepatitis C or to get general information on Hepatitis prevention, treatment, or testing contact an H Line counselor. Visit the online resource database to find Hepatitis c testing and treatment referrals.