Research has shown that a viral infections such as HIV/AIDS could
induce sterility, decrease sperm production, increase fetal mortality,
and decrease the frequency of sexual intercourse all playing a part
in declining fertility.
The
two groups at greatest risk for AIDS are homosexual or bisexual
men and people who shoot drugs. People who use needles to inject
drugs (including mainliners and skin poppers) get the virus by sharing
their works with other users who already have the AIDS virus in
their blood.
You can't always tell who is infected with the AIDS virus. Most
people actually carrying the virus don't look any different than
anybody else, they look and feel well, but they can still spread
the disease. Symptoms of AIDS may not show up for many years and
some remain without symptoms even then. Thousands of IV drug abusers
already have AIDS, and many thousands more are carriers of the virus.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a serious condition
that affects the body's ability to fight off infection. A diagnosis
of AIDS is made when a person develops some form of life-threatening
illness not usually found in a person with a normal ability to fight
infection. To date more that fifty percent of all the persons with
AIDS have died.
Did you know?
HIV infection in humans is now pandemic. As of January 2006,
the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and
the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has
killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized
on December 1, 1981, making it one of the most destructive
pandemics in recorded history.
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Shooting drugs has now been determined to be one of the biggest
problems facing America today. While the homosexual community has
put on a media campaign alerting and educating the public about
the dangers of AIDS, nothing is being done to stop the widespread
sharing of needles among drug users.
Remember, if you shoot drugs, you are in danger of catching AIDS.
The best advice for protecting yourself and people you love is to
stop shooting drugs. It is also important to note that women who
shoot drugs or who live with men who shoot drugs sometimes gives
AIDS to their babies, either before or shortly after birth. Babies
born with AIDS become ill very quickly.
Most individuals infected with the AIDS virus have no symptoms
and feel well for a long time before eventually developing such
symptoms as fever and night sweats, weight loss, swollen lymph glands
in the neck, the underarms and groin area, sever fatigue or tiredness,
diarrhea, white spots or unusual blemishes in the mouth. These symptoms
are also symptoms of a number of other illnesses and that should
be taken into consideration. Anyone with any of these symptoms for
more than two weeks should not panic buy should consult their doctor.
The AIDS virus is not spread through normal daily contact at work,
school or home. There have been no cases found where the virus has
been transmitted by casual contact with AIDS patients in the home,
workplace, or health care setting.
There is an antibody test that detects antibodies to the AIDS virus
that causes the disease. The body produces antibodies that try to
get rid of bacteria, viruses, or anything else that is not supposed
to be in the bloodstream. The test may show if someone has been
infected with the AIDS virus. While the testing procedure is considered
accurate, it does not tell who will develop full-blown AIDS.
Want to learn more?
"So You Have Actively Trying To Get Pregnant" will go over all the important medical conditions, health risks and problem causing chemicals. We show you how they relate to pregnancy and steps to overcome possible problems
