Sexuality and Gender 415sex organs themselves, whereas others have broader and more life-threatening effects. The
bacterial infections are quite treatable with antibiotics, but those caused by viruses are more
difficult to treat and are often incurable. Even curable bacterial infections can cause serious
problems if left untreated, and some bacterial infections are difficult to detect because the
symptoms in at least one sex are not all that noticeable. For example, chlamydia is the most
common STI and is easily treated, but it may go undetected in women because there are few
symptoms or no symptoms noticed. If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory
disorder (PID), a condition that can damage the lining of the uterus and the fallopian tubes as
well as the ovaries and other nearby structures. Ten percent of women in the United States
will develop PID during their childbearing years (Miller & Graves, 2000).
On a positive note, there is now a vaccine for a group of STIs called human papillo-
maviruses, or HPVs. Some HPVs can cause cancer, so prevention is highly desirable. There
are currently three vaccines approved for treatment that will prevent many of these viruses
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).
Without a doubt, the one sexually transmitted infection that nearly everyone knows
something about is AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS is caused by a
viral infection, specifically the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. A person who has HIV
does not necessarily have AIDS but is at risk for developing AIDS in the future. HIV wears
down the body’s immune system, making the body vulnerable to “opportunistic” infections—
infections caused by bacteria or viruses that, while harmless in a healthy immune system, will
take hold when the immune system is weakened. When a person with HIV develops one of
these types of infections or when their immune system’s T-cell count goes below a certain
level, the person is said to have AIDS (Folkman & Chesney, 1995).
I’ve heard a lot of stories about how people can get AIDS. What’s
the real story?
HIV can be transmitted to a person from anyone who has the infection, even if that
person doesn’t look sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), HIV may possibly be transmitted through:
šHaving unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact.
šSharing a contaminated needle, syringe, or drug solution.
šPregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
šOccupational exposure (accidental needle-stick injuries or exposure to contami-
nated blood or other body fluids).
šBlood transfusion or organ transplant (this is extremely rare in the United States).
Blood, vaginal fluid, semen, breast milk, and other bodily fluids containing blood are
ways in which HIV is passed from the infected person to an uninfected person. However,
unprotected vaginal or anal sex or sharing needles with an infected person are the most com-
mon ways HIV is transmitted in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion, 2010a, 2015). And while it is possible for a mother to transmit the virus to the baby during
childbirth or breastfeeding, this is less common. Context is very important. In parts of Africa
and other parts of the world, HIV–infected mothers are encouraged to breastfeed, especially
if the mother is on antiretroviral (ARV) medications and the baby receives ARVs after birth, as
the risk of the infant dying from unclean water or malnutrition is much greater than the risk
of acquiring HIV through breastfeeding (World Health Organization, 2010, 2012).
Contrary to a lot of myths about HIV, there is no scientific proof or documented cases
of HIV being passed through tears or ordinary saliva. Kissing an infected person will not
result in transmission, although it is possible to transmit the virus through oral sex or, rarely,
through deep kissing when there are open sores or bleeding gums in the mouth of either
party. More troubling is the finding that HIV can be transmitted to children who are fed by
mothers who have “prechewed” food (a practice that occurs in several countries and cultures,
including that of the United States). This is not common, though, and HIV cannot normally be
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sexually transmitted viral disorder that
causes deterioration of the immune
system and eventually results in death
due to complicating infections that the
body can no longer fight.These young men are attending a
counseling session at a community-based
AIDS clinic. They do not necessarily have
AIDS; the purpose of this particular group
is to help educate these men and others
like them in ways to prevent HIV infections.
With no cure as yet, prevention is the best
defense against AIDS. Remember, AIDS
can affect women and men of all sexual
orientations.Not too many years ago, no one would
have dared to advertise condoms
in such a public manner. The only
consequences of unsafe sex were
unwanted pregnancies and serious, but
not necessarily life-threatening, sexually
transmitted infections. With the onslaught
of the AIDS virus, safe sex has taken on a
whole new meaning.