HIV/AIDS prevention

AIDS primarily occurs through risky sexual contact (such as not knowing the partner's infection status and not using condoms), so HIV/AIDS can be prevented through proper condom usage. Condoms are an effective and inexpensive method for preventing AIDS, easily accessible, and correct condom use prevents infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If condoms have been used correctly and consistently during sexual contact, the risk of contracting HIV is nearly nonexistent; therefore, condoms should always be used during sexual contact when the infection status of the partner is unknown.

To ensure the preventive effect of condoms, the following guidelines must be followed:

Condoms are for single use only, so do not reuse

• Condoms should be used from the initial insertion, not just before ejaculation.
• Use condoms to avoid exposure to the partner's bodily fluids during vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, and oral sex.
• Be careful to prevent the condom from being torn due to teeth, rings, nails, etc., or slipping off.
• Make sure to pinch the tip of the condom to remove air and roll it down to cover the entire penis. If air is trapped inside, the condom may burst during use.
• After ejaculation, hold the rim of the condom to prevent it from slipping off while withdrawing from the partner’s body.
• Remove the used condom away from the partner’s body.

Before use, check the expiration date, and do not use expired products. If the surface of the condom is dry or sticky, it is highly likely that it has expired, and there is a higher risk of damage during use, which means it cannot provide the expected preventive effect.

Condoms are sensitive to heat, so storing them for long periods in high-temperature places like pants pockets or inside cars can lead to deterioration of the product. Condoms should be stored in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight.

When using a condom with a lubricant, be sure to use a water-based lubricant. Oil-based lubricants such as baby oil, cooking oil, lotions (cosmetics), and Vaseline can damage latex condoms and should not be used together.

Condoms can greatly help prevent the transmission of HIV and other pathogens. If condoms have been used correctly and consistently during sexual activity, the risk of HIV infection is very low. There is a claim that “condoms cannot be guaranteed to be 100% effective in preventing AIDS,” which is due to users not following the proper usage guidelines for condoms.

Oral HIV PrEP aims to prevent HIV infection by having high-risk individuals who are not infected with HIV take antiretroviral medication daily. When an HIV-infected person has sexual contact with an uninfected person, a small number of the many viruses transmitted from the infected person can cause infection. Antiretroviral medication suppresses the replication of the viruses that are responsible for transmission and kills the viruses that are transmitted by the immune response, thus preventing the spread of infection. For effective PrEP, it is essential to use condoms concurrently, maintain medication adherence, and provide counseling and education to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, as well as monitoring for drug side effects. Medical institutions where prescriptions can be made: ishap.org (Refer to hospitals that prescribe PrEP).

If preventive measures against HIV infection were not taken beforehand, post-exposure prophylaxis can be used to prevent HIV infection after exposure. Individuals who require post-exposure actions should first consult a healthcare professional to assess the circumstances of the exposure and check for other sexually transmitted infections. If the source of exposure is an HIV-infected person, post-exposure prophylaxis should be initiated within 72 hours (as soon as possible).

• However, post-exposure prophylaxis is generally not recommended if more than 72 hours have passed since the high-risk behavior, and it is also not advised for individuals who intend to continue engaging in high-risk behaviors for HIV infection.
• The treatment regimen for post-exposure prophylaxis includes a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) + an integrase inhibitor (raltegravir or dolutegravir), and in some cases, the addition of a protease inhibitor may be necessary.
• Medical institutions where prescriptions can be made: Outpatient or emergency departments of medical institutions with an infectious disease department

Recently, various countries, led by the United Nations, have declared U=U in relation to AIDS.