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York County Client Services HIV Prevention Services Peabody House en español |
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Staying Safe
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus that infects people while attacking cells that help fight infection and disease. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It can be passed on from person to person if someone with HIV has unprotected sex or shares needles with another person. The virus can sometimes be transmitted from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy and delivery. For more information or to ask questions about HIV and your risk, contact Prevention at prevention@peabodycenter.org. |
To reduce your risk of HIV infection: Always use a condom. It's dangerous to have anal or vaginal sex without a condom. Use latex condoms only. Oral sex can be less risky than vaginal or anal sex, but it’s not risk free. Use a condom or latex barrier every time to lower your risk. Latex dams are small squares of latex. They are used to cover the genitals during oral sex on a woman or on a man’s or woman’s anus. You can also use a condom cut open and laid flat. Never share needles. It is dangerous to share needles or works. For information about Portland’s Free Needle Exchange, call 207/756-8022. It is important for pregnant women to be tested for HIV in order to take steps to reduce the risk of transmission to the child. |