Assessing Your HIV or STD Risk

How does HIV relate to chlamydia and gonorrhea?
All STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, are spread by having unprotected sex. HIV, itself, is an STD! If you have had unprotected sex, it is even more likely that you might be infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea than with HIV because these STDs are easier to catch than HIV.

What type of test would be done?
AIDS tests are now made simple, easy and are available right from the privacy of your own home. OraQuick is an antibody test that provides results in 20 minutes. The blood, plasma or oral fluid is mixed in a vial with developing solution, and the results are read from a sticklike testing device. Usually detects HIV 1 and HIV 2. Orasure is an HIV test that uses mucosal transudate from the tissues of cheeks and gums. It is an antibody test that first employs ELISA, then western blot.

When can I get my results?
OraQuick is an antibody test that provides results in 20 minutes.

What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia (cla-mid-ee-ah) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a type of bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can infect men, women, and children. It is passed from one person to another during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Chlamydia can also be spread to the eyes by touching vaginal fluids or semen and then touching your eyes. Babies of infected mothers can get eye and lung infections during delivery.

Fifty percent of men and 80 percent of women with chlamydia have no symptoms of infection. When there are symptoms, which can include pain or skin irritation, they may appear within 30 days or less of infection, but then they will go away. Whether or not there are symptoms—and even after they go away—a person with chlamydia remains infected and can pass chlamydia on to a sex partner!

What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea (gon-or-e-uh) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a type of germ, a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhea can infect men and women. It is passed from one person to another during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can be found in the throat, vagina, urethra, and anus. Babies can be infected during birth, causing eye infections.

Gonorrhea symptoms appear within 10 days after a person is exposed to the germ. Then they disappear. Women often have no symptoms at all, but both women and men whose symptoms have disappeared are still infected. If you are infected in the throat through oral sex, you may feel like you have a sore throat. Gonorrhea is more easily spread to the throat by penis–mouth sex and rarely by mouth–vagina sex.

How would I get treated?

After AIDS testing, if you tested positive, you will need additional information on AIDS and HIV. Below is information on the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of AIDS and HIV.

PLEASE NOTE: The following information on drugs is not to be considered a total compilation of all the different types of approved and experimental drugs available for AIDS - HIV treatment. This listing only represents the most commonly used drugs and is categorized for easier use. Also, these drugs are listed as common treatments and therapies, and are provided strictly for your general information. Since each individual person displays a completely different set of signs and symptoms, the therapies and medications will vary accordingly. Your doctor is the best source for information with regard to medications that are most suitable for each individual AIDS patient.

Treatment of HIV Virus	Treatment of Opportunistic Infections	Other drugs used to treat various conditions
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (AZT, ddI, ddC, D4T)	Antifungals (Clotrimazole, Ketoconazole, Fluconazole, Nystatin, Amphotericin B, Pentamidine, Atavaquone)	Antidiarrheals (Octreotide, Loperamide)
Antivirals (Acyclovir, Ganciclovir, Foscarnet, Amantadine)	Protein Synthesis Inhibitors (Clarithromycin, Azithromycin)	Appetite Stimulators (Dronibol, Megestrol Acetate)
	TB Treatment (Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, Rifabutin)	Others (Folinic Acid)
	Antimicrobials (TMP/SMX, Sulfadiazine, Primaquine, Amikacin)
	Antineoplastics (Vinblastine)
	Quinolones ( Ciprofloxin, Enoxin, Lomefloxacin, and Norfloxacin )

At this time, AIDS cannot be cured. Only symptomatic treatment is available for the infections and other complications caused by HIV infection.