You've probably heard more about AIDS than you think you want to know. Unfortunately this disease will continue to have a major impact on all our lives for many years to come. A cure is not very likely and a vaccine is even more unlikely. Prevention is the key!

Cause: the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV)

Symptoms: The initial infection may have very mild symptoms, like a case of the flu. Rarely the initial infection is fatal within a few months. After the initial infection, symptoms can occur as a result of infections or cancers that begin as the immune system weakens.

Complications: Cancer, life-threatening infections, blindness, mental deterioration, death.

Treatment: Drug therapy is getting better (and more expensive) all the time. Cure is possible but seems unlikely at the present time. Holding the disease at bay for long periods is a reasonable expectation. There are specific measures to reduce the chance of certain infections.

Prevention: This continues to be the most important strategy for controlling this disease.

Anal intercourse is the most risky behavior. Vaginal intercourse is almost as dangerous. Oral sex is less likely to transmit the virus. If the guy doesn't ejaculate (have an orgasm) the risk is less. If he wears a condom the entire time the risk is close to zero. If he doesn't have the AIDS virus (HIV) then you're completely safe from this disease.

Obviously the best way to be safe is to make sure your partner is not infected. This can be checked by having him get a blood test. The blood test turns positive within a couple of months of getting the virus. If the test is negative several months after his last episode of unsafe sex it almost guarantees that he's not infected. You could take his word for it that he's always practiced safe sex or that he's had a negative blood test. You'd be betting your life on his telling the truth. It's better to go with him to your local STD clinic and both get tested. If you're both negative you can relax, but not completely. There are other STD's and pregnancy is a possibility.

Centers for Disease Control National AIDS Clearinghouse This site has vast amounts of information for health care professionals and the general public.