Monday 07-12-2020 - 10:15

Whilst I was in my first year of uni, there were two common misconceptions:

1) ‘Everyone at uni should already know everything there is to know about sex’

2) ‘I already know everything is to know about sex because I’m sexually active and I have had sex ed’.

I don’t think either thought is correct or fair.

Wouldn’t you love to be able to read a blog about a topic of sex you’re unsure of? Wouldn’t you love to not ask your friends embarrassing questions like ‘what is a dental dam?’ These are the reasons I wanted to do make sure Manchester Met students have access to all the info they need about sexual health.

So, let’s get stuck in. On 1 December it was World AIDS Day, so I want to start with AIDS/HIV.

 

History of HIV and AIDS

Since mid-1981, we’ve been aware of AIDS-related illnesses. The first case involved an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases among gay men — ‘killer pneumonia’ in California’s gay community —followed by eight cases of rare skin cancer in New York. In Britain, the first known victim of a HIV infection was a 49-year old man who passed away in Brompton hospital in the same year.

 

What exactly are HIV and AIDS?

In the UK, the NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/ is a reliable source when researching disease, illnesses and other body-related issues. Their information on HIV and AIDS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/ is clear and concise, something we as students find helpful.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) damages and weakens your immune system making it difficult for your body to fight off everyday infections and diseases. The body is unable to rid itself of HIV, and there is currently no effective cure. This means that once you have HIV, it’s for life. Treatment will help someone to live a long and healthy life, alongside a good lifestyle. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can both help to minimise HIV transmission through sex or drug use.

According to the NHS, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) describes several life-threatening infections that come from the damage done to your immune system by HIV. HIV develops into AIDS but with a regular medication routine, this risk is minimised. AIDS diagnosis requires counts for white blood cells in your immune system (CD4) to fall below 350 cells/mm3 or developing one or more opportunistic infections.

 

Do I have a HIV Infection?

You are most at risk from exposure if you receive contaminated blood from blood transfusions (92% likely), this means you are more at risk if you are an intravenous drug user. If you have been sexually active with a partner whom you feel may have withheld a positive HIV result, you should get tested immediately.

If you want to know more about the stages and the symptoms visit HIV.gov. If you are struggling with drug use you can visit Change Grow Live for more help.

 

I have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, what now?

If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, it doesn’t mean you can’t live a long and healthy life. A HIV+ diagnosis means you’ll be having regular blood tests to monitor it. Antiretroviral medication is a common HIV treatment (they stop the virus’ replication allowing the immune system to repair).

HIV adapts to medication quickly which can mean that it becomes resistant quickly, to prevent this a combination of drugs will be used for treatment. You might need to take the pills 1-4 times a day. For info on side effects visit Terrence Higgins Trust.

 

What support can I get from the University?

The Wellbeing team is always there to help you get through any rough patch in your uni life. They have a useful webpage where you can visit and look through for the help available (things like workshops and courses). If you have had a HIV+ diagnosis then you are protected under the Equality Act as having a disability.

You can also get more support from others that are going through the same thing from George House Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, Positively UK and National AIDS Trust, to name a few. If you identify as part of the LGBT+ community and are worried about HIV/AIDS you can also contact LGBT Foundation — they will direct you to their trusted services and support systems.

 

Your rights

Once you think you may have or know you do have HIV/AIDS:

+ You don’t have to tell your sexual partner as long as you take the appropriate precautions to prevent transmission

• If you fail to take appropriate precautions and don't tell your partner, you can be open to legal action

+ You don’t have to disclose this information to your employer unless:

• You are a healthcare worker who is performing ‘exposure-prone procedures’
• You are military personnel, if you are thinking of joining the forces you will not be accepted if you are HIV-positive, if you get diagnosed HIV+ during your service you may remain in service
• You work in aviation, restrictions are varying for pilots and air-traffic control officers. This is to ensure that the condition doesn’t inhibit work capability or judgment

 

UNAIDS

UNAIDS was established to strengthen and improve the UN’s response to the AIDS epidemic. They are currently working on achieving ‘zero new HIV-infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths’ by 2030. Their website is great place to start researching HIV and AIDS, you can find anything AIDS related there, from factsheets to infographics and it’s also where you can get up-to-date stats.

The numbers are scary enough without thinking about how a HIV infection can make you feel, especially if it turned into an AIDS. Many people will go undiagnosed because they feel anxious about going to the doctors. This is possibly due to the stigma around it or it could be because the person doesn’t want to ‘waste’ valuable medical resources.

If you are feeling anxious or worried about a diagnosis, visit the Wellbeing team, they can help you talk through your concerns.

 

My next sex ed topic

In my next blog, I’ll be covering all the different types of protection available. If you’ve got anything specific you’d like me to cover, drop me an email.

 

Blog written by America Pardo Gomez, Wellbeing Officer at The Union