Women & HIV/AIDS

Myths About HIV/AIDS

Home > HIV/AIDS Home > Myths About HIV/AIDS

Having correct information is the key to understanding and preventing HIV/AIDS. Here are some common myths about HIV/AIDS.

Women can't give men HIV. It is true that it's much harder for men to get HIV from women, but it does happen. Men have fewer areas on the penis where the virus can enter the bloodstream. HIV can enter at the opening of the tip and through cuts or sores on the shaft. But if a partner has an untreated STI like syphilis or gonorrhea, which can break the skin, the risk of his getting HIV from his female partner increases.

Since I am HIV-positive, if I get pregnant, I will spread the disease to my unborn baby. A woman who knows about her HIV infection early in pregnancy and is treated appropriately has about a 2 percent chance of delivering a baby with HIV. Without treatment, this risk is about 25 percent in the United States.

He doesn't "look" like someone with HIV. Have you heard the old saying "Everything that looks good, isn't good?" The 10-year latency period can prevent a person from knowing he or she is infected with HIV. Without knowing, that person may be practicing unsafe sex and may spread the virus to you! You can protect yourself from HIV by not having sex or by using a condom correctly and all the time.

HIV is the same as AIDS. HIV is the virus which leads to AIDS. A person is said to have AIDS when his or her CD4 count drops below 200 or when he or she has certain infections or cancers. A person can be infected with HIV for years without having AIDS. Having HIV infection does not mean you have AIDS.

Both my partner and I have HIV. We don't need to use a condom. This is not true. You still need to practice safe sex. Keep in mind, there are different strains (types) of HIV. Increasing evidence shows that re-infection with a different HIV strain can and does happen. You can infect your partner again if you are taking anti-HIV therapies, which you've become resistant to, and then you pass the drug-resistant strain of HIV to your partner. Likewise, if your partner is taking anti-HIV therapy, you could become infected with drug-resistant strains of HIV. Make sure to use a condom every time you have sex.

The government produced AIDS to reduce certain groups of people. The government did not make this disease. Research suggests that AIDS appears to have started in Africa, where several monkey and chimpanzee species had been infected with a virus that is closely related to HIV. There are several ways by which humans may have become infected by this virus, including blood contact as chimpanzees are often killed and eaten in Africa. New research suggests that mutations or changes in a single gene may have turned the AIDS virus from a fairly harmless infection of monkeys and chimpanzees into a global killer of humans. The virus in humans appears to have lost a genetic trait that protected the immune system in monkeys and chimpanzees.

Knowing who is on the "down low" will save me from getting HIV. Learning your partner's sexual and drug history is important. But the only sure way to keep from getting HIV is by not having sex. Otherwise, make sure to use a condom every time you have sex.

I cannot get HIV from tattoos or body piercing. A risk of HIV transmission does exist if tools contaminated with blood are not cleaned and sterilized properly between clients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that tools that are intended to penetrate the skin be used once, then disposed of or thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between clients. If you are considering getting a tattoo or having your body pierced, ask the staff what steps they take to prevent the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, such as the hepatitis B virus. You also may call the local health department to find out what sterilization procedures are in place in the local area for these types of businesses.

I have HIV. It is best for me to start drug therapy when I get sick. Even when you're feeling great, HIV is making copies of itself and attacking your immune system. When you finally start feeling sick, HIV has already damaged your immune system and nothing can fully bring it back to normal. To protect your immune system, most experts think you should start HIV medicines before you become seriously ill. Regular checkups will help you and your doctor decide the best time for your to start treatment.

HIV can be cured. While many make claims of miraculous cures, the truth is there is no cure for HIV at this time. We've made great strides in HIV care. People have families and relationships, and continue to work despite their illness. In short, people are living with HIV and AIDS, but there is no cure yet.

Tips for Teens: HIV/AIDS — This easy-to-read publication for teens explains how HIV is spread, prevention steps, and symptoms of HIV. It offers tips for teens wanting to learn more about the disease, as well as for teens infected with HIV.
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/phd725/
AIDS Myths and Misunderstandings (Copyright © AIDS InfoNet) — AIDS InfoNet provides statistics and factual information to dispel myths about the cause, transmission, and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/158
Global AIDS: Myths and Facts (Copyright © AMSA) — This fact sheet gives a quick summary of HIV and AIDS in light of some commonly accepted myths and explains the truth behind the misconceptions.
http://www.amsa.org/global/aids/aidsfacts.cfm
Myths About AIDS and the Blood Supply (Copyright © Red Cross) — This publication debunks many commonly held myths regarding HIV transmission and the Red Cross blood supply.
http://chapters.redcross.org/br/nypennregion/safety/mythsaid.htm
Youth HIV Prevention Project: AIDS 101 (Copyright © Metropolitan King County Council) — This publication offers answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about HIV, AIDS, and how a person becomes infected with the virus.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/aids101.aspx

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 4, 2009.

This site is owned and maintained by the Office on Women's Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

You may need to download a free PDF reader to view files marked with this icon.