What is HIV?
HIV is a virus, like the flu or cold. A virus is really nothing but a set of instructions for making new viruses, wrapped up in some fat, protein and sugar. Without living cells, a virus can't do anything-it's like a brain with no body. In order to make more viruses (and do all the other nasty thing that the virus can do), a virus has to infect the cell. HIV mostly infects T-cells, also known as CD4+cells, or T-helper cells. Theses cells are white blood cell that turns the immune system on to fight disease. Once inside the cell, HIV starts producing millions of little viruses, which eventually kill the cell and then go out to infect other cells.
More : The HIV Life Cycle

How do you get AIDS?

You don't actually "get" AIDS. You might get infected with HIV, and later you might develop AIDS. You can get infected with HIV from someone who's infected, even if they don't look sick, and even if they haven't tested HIV-positive yet.The blood, vaginal fluid, semen, and breast milk of people infected with HIV has enough of the virus in it to infect ither people.

What is the different between AIDS and HIV?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a serious condition in which the body's defences against some illness are broken down. This means that people with AIDS can get many different kinds of diseases which a healthy person's body would normally fight off quite off easily.

Is there a cure for AIDS?

There is no cure for AIDS. There are drugs that can slow down the HIV virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. But there is no way to get all the HIV out of your body. There are other drugs that you can take to prevent or to treat opportunistic infections (OIs). In most cases, these drugs work very well. The newer, stronger anti-HIV drugs have also helped reduce the rates of most OIs. A few OIs, however, are still difficult to treat.

How does HIV spread during sex?

To spread HIV during sex, HIV infection in blood or sexual fluids must be transmitted to someone. Sexual fluids come from a man's penis or from a woman's vagina, before, during, or after orgasm. HIV can be transmitted when infected fluid gets into someone's body. You can't spread HIV if there is no HIV infection. If you and your partners are not infected with HIV, there is no risk. If there is no contact with blood or sexual fluids , there is no risk. HIV needs to get into the body for infection to occur. Safer sex guidelines are ways to reduce the risk of spreading HIV during sexual activity.

Make your own decision

Decide how risk you are wiling to take. Know how much protection you want to use during different kinds of sexual activities. Before you have sex:

• Think about safer sex
• Set your limit
• Get a supply of lubricant and condoms or other barriers, and be sure they are easy to find when you need them
• Talk to your partners so they know your limits.Sticky to your decisions. Don't let alcohol or drugs or an attractive partner make you forget to protect yourself.

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