I’m always surprised that the LSHTM gives me the privilege of returning to talk about the shifting landscape of funding and how to help assure that it is spent well and to benefit Africa’s future. As I met the Zoom room full of bright, engaged students (many of whom are living the challenges of adequate funding daily in countries such as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and Cameroon) I was struck by how fast the familiar old world of advocacy died, and how urgent it is that we build a new one.

My perspective is shaped by 35 years as a policy and communications consultant working across the continent. I have seen the era of the “Great Man” advocacy, where we simply tried to bend the ear of a US President or a billionaire philanthropist. We look back at those days with rose-tinted glasses: the billionaires and rich-country leaders were fickle and their focus was often on getting recognition or a seat at the top table, not on the real need. Even when they did try to assess the real needs, it was usually through the uninformed eyes of over-priced management consultants whose only knowledge of Africa came from airport VIP lounges. The billionaires were also shockingly bad at effective advocacy for something as obviously cost effective as health spending.

In any case, those days are over. If we want to secure the future of health in Africa, our work to influence policy must evolve to meet a much harsher, more complex fiscal reality.

The Shifting Foundation of Global Health Funding

We have seen a fundamental failure in advocacy around health funding. The data released by the OECD reveals a stark trend: the era of expanding bilateral aid is ending. Total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is contracting, and 96% of that decline is driven by just five donors: Germany, the UK, Japan, France, and most significantly, the USA.

The US alone is responsible for three-quarters of the global decline in health funding. While Germany has technically become the largest provider of ODA for the first time in history, even it is cutting budgets, albeit in an attempt to become more efficient. Meanwhile, traditional multilateral ODA, money flowing to the WHO or the World Food Programme for example, is shrinking less than bilateral grants, but the overall pie is getting smaller.

The good news is that the World Bank and regional development banks such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) are stepping in to fund some health projects. There are questions over “additionality”: are these institutions really funding things that private equity or other lenders to states would not? And there are frequent criticisms that the banks have failed to create funding buckets for innovative models such as low-cost private-sector primary care. However, there are real successes. The AfDB in particular has said loudly and clearly that economic growth depends in large measure on better health and has encouraged governments and funding agencies to invest accordingly.

The Rise of the America First Bilateral Accords

US funding has not disappeared: it has shrunk and mutated into the America First health policy. This administration is moving away from broad global initiatives toward strict bilateral health accords between the US and individual African countries. These are not just funding agreements; they are ideological and strategic contracts that come with significant strings attached.

Under these accords, the US makes a five-year commitment with a clear “exit strategy”: funding is front-loaded but tapers off to zero, forcing national governments to take on “ownership.” While national ownership sounds positive, the requirements are often demanding.

The focus is what you would expect from an administration with an ideological focus derived from Project 2030. It is on maternal and child health (and, yes. The State Department often says that it is the health of children “born and unborn”) and infectious disease.

These accords also require African countries to share pathogen data and specimens with the US within five days of an outbreak. This creates a parallel data mechanism to the WHO and, more importantly, seeks to capture what one of the post-graduate students called, “the new oil.” Africa holds 80% of humanity’s genetic diversity. In an era of genetic medicine, this data is a massive national asset. Several students at LSHTM rightly pointed out that countries like South Africa and Kenya see this as a key resource to be traded for R&D investment, not just given away for a few years of HIV funding. Africa is also developing national health databases that can be used to assess and model the impact of interventions and, as when the continent pioneered payments from mobile phones, it is less encumbered with antiquated existing systems and threatened vested interests.

Most alarmingly to me, these accords are sometimes tied to non-health issues. We’ve seen Zambia refuse to sign because the US tied HIV funding to access to critical minerals and mining data.

One Path Forward: the Accra Reset

The Accra Reset sets out to be a roadmap for this new era. It aims for 55% of health spending to be domestic by 2030, funded in part through “sin taxes” on sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco. Other means of national funding include surcharges on profitable data transactions and health solidarity funds. Its organisers say that these taxes will raise £750 million in 2026 in six countries alone. I think that’s a high estimate, but there is real money there.

The Accra framework is, though, delusional in thinking that out-of-pocket health can be reduced over the next five years. The AfDB projection is that the private health market in Africa will explode. This is not necessarily bad news for health equity: much of the growth will come in highly efficient fixed-cost private primary care models targeted to working people (although, admittedly, rarely to the bottom of the pyramid or the working poor). These models can be valuable ways to give fast access to innovation and convenient, timely provision of sexual and reproductive health services.

Recommendations for the New Advocate

Given this backdrop, I suggested that these elite advocates do the following.

1. Make Health Explicitly Political

We often hear that health should be non-political. This is a mistake. Non-political subjects are boring and ignored. We need health to be the subject of election campaigns, impassioned debates and social media memes. When health becomes a political must-have, politicians make promises they can be held to. We want people shouting about health in the streets of Accra, Nairobi, and Lagos.

2. Frame Health as a Capital Asset, Not a Cost Centre

We must stop arguing for funding based solely on morality. We need to speak the language of Finance Ministers. According to the World Bank and the AfDB, health is a growth engine.

• ROI Data: For every $1 spent on malaria treatment, the economy gets $35 back. For paediatric immunisation, it’s $20. For SRHR, the returns are less often quantified rigorously but similarly massive because they enable women to enter the workforce and stay productive.
• Preventative Care as Infrastructure: Just as investing in robotics improves productivity, investing in the health of a citizen from birth to age 65 creates a stock of human capital that belongs on a national balance sheet, as the World Bank has now recognised.

3. Build Alliances with FBOs

Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) provide roughly 30% of healthcare in Africa. The America First plan prioritises them, in part because it plays well to US domestic audiences and, in part, because they are efficient and embedded in communities. While we may disagree with some FBOs on abortion or family planning for unmarried youth, they have incredible national reach. As one student noted, a Pentecostal church in Nigeria aiming for a branch every 15 minutes of walking distance is a more powerful delivery network than any government programme. We must engage them to improve quality and advocate for rights within their frameworks.

4. Harness the Power of Media and Social Media

We can’t forget about media, especially in Africa where so many people are still dependent entirely on TV and local radio and where online and offline newspapers are declining less slowly.

Increasingly, though, we must go where the people are — which is social media. During the lecture, students raised concerns about medical influencers spreading misinformation or misogyny. My response: then we must flood the zone. We need to train responsible influencers. When Joe Fazer, a bodybuilding influencer with about 30 million followers produces content about health equity, he can mobilise a generation we will never reach through traditional policy papers.

Overall, we are in a time of great opportunity and serious danger. The transition from aid to co-investment is the only way to escape the whims of Washington or Berlin. We must be like the “trained revolutionaries” Lenin spoke of — professionals who know how to stir up movements and demand that our governments prioritise health not because a donor asked them to, but because their own citizens demand it.

The post Advocacy in the Age of Autonomy: Funding for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Africa appeared first on Medika Life.

List of conditions that affect both men and women

It is crucial to know that there’s a possibility of their occurrence irrespective of your biological makeup. MedsNow presents a list of the most common female diseases that could affect men too. 

• Osteoporosis –

This condition marks the weakening of bones, especially in women after their menopause, making them more vulnerable to fractures. While losing bone mass is mostly seen in women, men could be at risk too. Ideally, men lose bone mass at the same rate as women. Doctors recommend undertaking bone density tests since various factors could worsen the condition. Some of them include kidney and thyroid problems, deficiency of vitamin D, excessive use of steroids, some depression medications, etc.

• Yeast infections –

Also known as thrush, yeast infections usually affect the genitals and skin around the genitals for both men and women. Popularly known as Jock itch for men, these infections lead to itchiness, redness and irritation around the penile area. Thrush treatment for men mainly involves a doctor recommended anti-fungal medication that helps overcome the condition within a week. 

• Breast cancer –

While women are more prone to breast cancer due to a higher amount of breast tissue, this deadly disease has been on the rise in men due to certain genetic makeup or conditions like obesity. Men tend to overlook the symptoms leading to further complications and irreparable damage when the diagnosis comes out. 

• Thyroid problems –

The thyroid gland that rests in the middle of the lower neck is responsible for regulating your metabolism. Both excessive production or lowering of hormone production by this gland can result in conditions called Hyper or Hypothyroidism, respectively. Both the health conditions affect both men and women with symptoms like weight gain, muscle weakness, memory loss, etc. 

• Eating disorders –

While both bulimia and anorexia are most commonly diagnosed in women, the rising needs and peer pressures of wanting to look better have led to many men facing them too. And because of the lack of awareness, the diagnosis gets delayed leading to further complications. 

• Bladder infections –

UTIs occur in older men and women, both of whom are at risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. The condition restricts your bladder from emptying fully, further leading to bacterial growth and infections. Additionally, men facing kidney stones or the abnormal narrowing of their urethra also face high risks of bladder infections. 

• Male Menopause –

Menopause marks a significant phase in a women’s life. The ceasing of menstruation due to hormonal changes brings about a host of discomforting menopause symptoms like hot flashes, hair loss, insomnia, etc. But did you know that male menopause, known as Andropause, also exists? The condition occurs because, with age, the production of testosterone in men reduces. 

• Lupus –

There is a major lack of awareness about Lupus in men. Most people are misinformed that the condition only occurs in women leading to underdiagnosis in men. Some of the common symptoms in both men and women include joint pain, swelling, chest pains, dry eyes, fatigue and rashes. 

• Autoimmune diseases –

Like women, men with a genetic history of autoimmune diseases face a higher risk of contracting conditions like type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, Lupus, etc. The symptoms mostly get ignored because they are different for men and women, but there is no gender bias in these conditions. 

As you must have seen so far, there are a lot of female medical problems that, irrespective of gender, age or risk factors, can occur in men (or people with male genital organs) too. Healthcare professionals recommend scheduling regular check-ups and noticing abnormal signs and symptoms to avoid further complications. Remember, nothing is embarrassing enough if it can save your life. 

The post Which Women’s Health Conditions Affect Men? appeared first on Medika Life.

A lack of vaginal moisture may have a significant impact on a woman’s sex life. Sex does not have to hurt. Fortunately, there are many available options to provide the vagina with moisture and make sex pleasurable.

Here are eight tips to help solve the problem of vaginal dryness. 

1. Water-based sexual lubricants

Sexual lubricants reduce friction. Lubricants enhance the experience and eliminate painful chafing and burning. 

The application of sexual lubricant as a part of foreplay is a simple trick for many women to improve sexual pleasure. Lube may be applied directly to the vagina, clitoris, or penis before penetration.

Not all lubricants are the same. Most lubricants available at a local pharmacy are water-based. Water-based lubricants are the safest choice to prevent sexually transmitted infections. They do not break down latex in condoms or sex toys. Water-based lubricants are ideal for those with sensitive skin or those prone to vaginal irritation. 

Water-based lubricants do not leave stains on sheets and are easy to clean in the laundry. 

Popular brands include Astroglide and KY. 

On the downside, water-based lubricants dry out quickly. Rapid drying may require reapplication for longer sexual sessions. For those suffering from chronic vaginal dryness or inadequate natural lubrication during sex, they may be insufficient. Water-based lubricants are often suboptimal for postmenopausal women.  

2. Silicone-based sexual lubricants

Silicone-based lubricants stay slippery longer, avoiding the frustration of rapid drying and reapplication messiness. This type of lubricant does not evaporate when exposed to air and provides a wet sensation for longer sexual sessions. Since they are not water-based, silicone lubes may be used in the shower or bathtub.

One popular brand is Platinum Wet. This Paraben and Glycerin free product reduces the risk of chemical irritation. Penchant Premium is another hypoallergic option ideal for those with sensitive skin. 

Silicone-based lubricants may be more effective and pleasurable for monogamous couples at low risk for sexually transmitted infections. 

Non-water-based lubricants have downsides too. They are messy. Soap and water must be used to remove them, and they will also stain sheets. 

Silicone-based lubricants will break down latex condoms or latex in sex toys.

3. Foreplay 

We can not underestimate the value of foreplay for those with chronic vaginal dryness. Foreplay gets the juices flowing by increasing sexual arousal. Blood flow to genitals increases, causing the vagina, labia, and clitoris to swell. 
Better stimulation leads to more natural lubrication and an increase in vaginal elasticity. The vagina then secretes natural lubrication, which increases pleasure and reduces pain. 

For those with chronic vaginal dryness, communicating sexual needs and desires to your partner is critical. Sexual partners may be unaware of the physiological changes and not know what to do. Providing feedback allows the partner to learn how best to meet your needs.

4. Vaginal Moisturizers

Multiple products over-the-counter products are available to help increase vaginal moisture. The basic idea is to prevent dryness and improve the vaginal ph balance. These products do not treat the underlying cause of vaginal dryness. They are useful for day to day use to alleviate discomfort and improve vaginal moisture.

Those will sensitive skin may benefit from avoiding products containing parabens, glycerin, or propylene glycol. These additives may cause skin irritation. 

Popular products include Replens and Luvena. 

5. Vaginal Estrogen

Estrogen is one of the most important female hormones. A decrease in the production of estrogen by the ovaries triggers physiological changes in the vagina. The vaginal tissues thin out, and lubrication decreases. 

Breastfeeding, certain medications, and menopause all cause estrogen deficiency.

Prescription estrogen medication can be placed directly into the vagina to offset the deficiency. Low dose Estrogen applied directly to the vagina bulks up vaginal cells and increases blood flow. Restoring vaginal health allows cells to produce more moisture. Natural lubrication improves, and the more elastic vaginal walls reduce resistance to trauma during penetration.

Vaginal estrogen comes in a variety of forms from creams, rings, and vaginal tablets. All require a prescription and evaluation by a health provider before use. 

6. DHEA supplements 

The DHEA hormone is a highly effective alternative to estrogen therapy. Before menopause, DHEA levels are high. As the ovaries stop functioning, DHEA levels fall. DHEA supplements can be placed into the vagina to restore vaginal health, reduce intercourse pain, and improve vaginal dryness. 

Only one medication is commercially available. Prasterone, sold under the brand name Intrarosa, is a plant-derived form of DHEA. Prasterone is inserted into the vagina once a day through an easy to use applicator. DHEA converts into estrogen targeting the underlying cause of dryness. It is FDA indicated for painful intercourse.

Prasterone requires a prescription and monitoring by a health provider.

7. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators 

Another alternative to estrogen therapy is a class of drugs called SERMS (Selective Estrogen receptor modulators). These medications act directly on the hormone receptors. Direct targeting of the vaginal tissue increases the thickness of the superficial and parabasal vaginal cells.

Like estrogen and DHEA therapy, the restored health of the vaginal cells improves the natural ability to produce moisture and lubrication. 

Ospemifene is the only FDA approved oral drug for vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

Ospemifene requires a prescription and monitoring by a health provider.

8. Topical Sildenafil 

Sildenafil is a popular medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men by increasing blood flow to the penis. Some women benefit from the topical application of Sildenafil. 

A pea-size amount of compounded Sildenafil cream is applied directly to the clitoris before intercourse. Sildenafil cream increases blood flow to the clitoris. For some women, the increased blood flow triggers more natural lubrication, improves pleasure, and helps to achieve orgasm. 

Sildenafil requires a prescription and monitoring by a health provider for this off label use.

Vaginal dryness is a problem you don’t have to ignore

Vaginal dryness is a common symptom among women. Painful intercourse and vaginal discomfort are not problems to be tolerated. These options can help one restore vaginal health and enhance the sexual experience. 

The post 8 Tips to Solve Vaginal Dryness and Overcome Painful Intercourse appeared first on Medika Life.

What can I do before getting pregnant to lower my risk of passing HIV to my baby?

If you plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away. Your doctor can talk with you about how HIV can affect your health during pregnancy and your unborn baby’s health. Your doctor can work with you to prepare for a healthy pregnancy before you start trying to become pregnant.

Everyone living with HIV should take HIV medicines to stay healthy. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant and are not taking HIV treatment, it is important that you begin, because this will lower your chances of passing the virus to your baby when you become pregnant.

There are ways for you to get pregnant that will limit your partner’s risk of HIV infection. You can ask your doctor about ways to get pregnant and still protect your partner.

I do not have HIV, but my partner does. Can I get pregnant without getting HIV?

Women have a higher risk of HIV infection during vaginal sex than men. If you do not have HIV but your male partner does, the risk of getting HIV while trying to get pregnant can be reduced but not totally eliminated.

Talk to your doctor about HIV medicine you can take (called pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP) to help protect you and your baby from HIV.

You may also want to consider donor sperm or assisted reproductive technology, such as semen washing or in vitro fertilization, to get pregnant. These options can be expensive and may not be covered by your health insurance.

I’m pregnant. Will my baby have HIV?

If you just found out you are pregnant, see your doctor right away. Find out what you can do to take care of yourself and to give your baby a healthy start to life.

With your doctor’s help, you can decide on the best treatment for you and your baby before, during, and after the pregnancy. You should also take these steps below before and during your pregnancy to help you and your baby stay healthy.

Just because you have HIV doesn’t mean your child will get HIV. In the United States, before effective treatment was available, about 25% of pregnant mothers with HIV passed the virus to their babies. Today, if you take HIV treatment and have an undetectable viral load, your risk of passing HIV to your baby is less than 1%.¹

What can I do to lower my risk of passing HIV to my baby?

Thanks to more HIV testing and new medicines, the number of children infected with HIV during pregnancy, labor and childbirth, and breastfeeding has decreased by 90% since the mid-1990s. The steps below can lower the risk of giving HIV to your baby:

Step 1

Tell your doctor you want to get pregnant. Your doctor can help you decide if you need to change your treatments to lower your viral load, to help you get pregnant without passing HIV to your partner, and to prevent you from passing the virus to your baby. He or she will also help you get as healthy as possible before you get pregnant to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. Don’t stop using condoms for STI prevention and another method of birth control for pregnancy prevention until your doctor says you are healthy enough to start trying.

Step 2

Get prenatal care. Prenatal care is the care you receive from your doctor while you are pregnant. You need to work closely with your doctor throughout your pregnancy to monitor your treatment, your health, and your baby’s health.

Step 3

Start HIV treatment. You can start treatment before pregnancy to lower the risk of passing HIV to your baby. If you are already on treatment, do not stop, but do see your doctor right away. Some HIV drugs should not be used while you’re pregnant. For other drugs, you may need a different dosage.

Step 4

Manage side effects. Side effects from HIV medicines can be especially challenging during pregnancy, but it is still important that you take your medicine as directed by your doctor. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you have and about ways to manage them.

Step 5

Do not breastfeed. You can pass the virus to your baby through your breastmilk even if you are taking medicine. The best way to avoid passing HIV to your baby is to feed your infant formula instead of breastfeeding.

Step 6

Make sure your baby is tested for HIV right after birth. You should choose a doctor or clinic experienced in caring for babies exposed to HIV. They will tell you what follow-up tests your baby will need and when. Talk to your doctor about whether your baby may benefit from starting treatment right away.

Step 7

Ask your pediatric HIV specialist if your baby might benefit from anti-HIV medicines before you know if your baby is HIV-positive or HIV-negative. Research has shown that giving combination HIV drugs to newborns is better at preventing HIV than taking AZT (azidothymidine, an antiretroviral medicine) alone.

Can I take HIV medicine during pregnancy?

HIV-infected pregnant women should take HIV medicines. These medicines can lower the risk of passing HIV to a baby and improve the mother’s health.

If you haven’t used any HIV drugs before pregnancy and are in your first trimester, your doctor will help you decide if you should start treatment. Here are some things to consider:

• Nausea and vomiting may make it hard to take the HIV medicine early during pregnancy.
• It is possible the medicine may affect your baby. Your doctor will prescribe medicine that is safe to use during pregnancy.
• HIV is more commonly passed to a baby late in pregnancy or during delivery. HIV can be passed early in pregnancy if your viral load is detectable.
• Studies show treatment works best at preventing HIV in a baby if it is started before pregnancy or as early as possible during pregnancy.

If you are taking HIV drugs and find out you’re pregnant in the first trimester, talk to your doctor about sticking with your current treatment plan. Some things you can talk about with your doctor include:

• Whether to continue or stop HIV treatment in the first trimester. Stopping HIV medicine could cause your viral load to go up. If your viral load goes up, the risk of infection also goes up. Your disease also could get worse and cause problems for your baby. So this is a serious decision to make with your doctor.
• What effects your HIV medicines may have on the baby
• Whether you are at risk for drug resistance. This means the HIV medicine you take no longer works against HIV. Never stop taking your HIV medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Can I get help paying for care during pregnancy?

If you are pregnant, Medicaid may pay for your prenatal care. If you are pregnant and living with HIV, Medicaid might pay for counseling, medicine to lower the risk of passing HIV to your baby, and treatment for HIV. Each state makes its own rules regarding Medicaid. Contact your local or county medical assistance, welfare, or social services office to learn more. If you are unable to find that number, search your state’s department of health.

If you don’t think you qualify for assistance, check again. Sometimes states change their Medicaid rules. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid eligibility expanded to cover many more people. Also, you may be newly eligible for Medicaid because of increased income limits for prenatal care and HIV treatment for pregnant women.

You may also access care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Find a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program medical care provider near you. 

Offsite Resources

For more information about HIV and pregnancy, check out the following resources from other organizations:

• HIV Among Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children — Fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• HIV and Pregnancy — Information from AIDSinfo.
• Infant feeding and HIV — Publication from UNICEF.
• Elimination of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (EMCT) in the United States — Fact sheet from CDC.
• One Test. Two Lives. — Campaign information from the CDC.

The post Pregnancy and HIV; Here is What We Need to Know appeared first on Medika Life.

Fact: HIV and AIDS are problems in the United States.

HIV and AIDS are not problems that exist only in Africa or in other parts of the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 1.2 million Americans 13 years and older are living with HIV.

One in four people living with AIDS in the United States in 2014 was a woman. An estimated 128,778 women have died of AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic in 1981.

Fact: HIV is not the same as AIDS.

HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS. You have AIDS if your CD4 count drops below 200 or when you have certain infections or cancers. You can have HIV for years without having AIDS. Being infected with HIV does not mean you have developed AIDS.

Also, people with HIV who start treatment early in their infection, stay on treatment, and have an undetectable viral load can stay healthy and prevent the disease from progressing to AIDS.

Fact: HIV tests are reliable.

Newer HIV tests identify the virus itself and a marker on the virus called p24 antigen. These tests can detect HIV infection much earlier than previous tests. A follow-up test to confirm the results also can determine the strain of HIV infection you may have. 

Fact: HIV cannot be cured.

There is no cure for HIV at this time. But with today’s medicine, women can reduce their viral load (amount of HIV in the blood) to the point that it is undetectable. This means that your viral load is fewer than 40 to 75 copies in a sample of your blood.

An undetectable viral load does not mean that you no longer have HIV. It is still possible to pass HIV to others, although the risk is much lower. Having an undetectable viral load also helps prevent the progression to AIDS or getting other infections.

Research is being done that may lead to new treatments and new ways of preventing HIV infection. In the meantime, women with HIV are living full lives, including working, having children, and participating fully in their communities.

Fact: There is no vaccine to prevent HIV.

Right now we do not have a vaccine to prevent HIV. Vaccines are the best way to prevent diseases you can get from other people, like the measles, mumps, or polio. Researchers have been working for more than 20 years to develop a safe and effective vaccine against HIV.

HIV is a complicated virus that changes over time. This makes vaccine research difficult, and it takes a long time to do the research. Researchers are closer to developing a vaccine to prevent HIV and a vaccine to treat HIV and AIDS.

Fact: People with HIV should start HIV medicine right away.

Even if you’re feeling great and have no symptoms, HIV is hurting your immune system. To protect your immune system, most experts recommend starting HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) as soon as you are diagnosed with HIV. Because these drugs reduce your “viral load,” or the amount of HIV in your blood, they also reduce your chances of passing HIV to others.

Fact: You cannot know if your partner has HIV unless he or she is tested.

It can take years for you to see symptoms of HIV. This is called the latency period. The only way to fully protect yourself from sexually transmitted HIV is to not have sex of any kind. Using a condom correctly every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex can reduce the risk of passing HIV by 80%. Male latex condoms offer the best protection against HIV, but female condoms are also approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help lower your risk for HIV infection.

Use a condom every time you have sex for two reasons. First, your partner might be infected but not know it. Second, you cannot control your partner’s risky behavior. You can know only your HIV status and control only your own risk-taking.

Fact: You (or your partner) need to wear a condom during sex, even if you are both HIV-positive.

If you and your partner have HIV, you still need to practice safer sex. Use a condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Condoms can protect you from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Also, since there are different strains (types) of HIV, you can be infected a second time with a different type than what you already have. Some forms of HIV are also more virulent, meaning they progress to AIDS faster. You could become infected with a drug-resistant strain of HIV. This can make it very hard for treatment to work.

Fact: Women can give HIV to men.

It is much harder for men to get HIV from women, but it does happen. HIV can enter a man’s body at the opening of the tip of the penis and through cuts or sores on the shaft that may not be visible.

Plus, if a partner has an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI) like genital herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia, the risk is even higher. These infections can bring more CD4 cells to the area of infection or cause breaks in the skin. These STIs also raise your risk for passing HIV to others.

Fact: A pregnant woman with HIV can lower the chance of passing HIV to her unborn baby to less than 1%.

A woman who knows about her HIV infection early in pregnancy and gets antiretroviral (ARV) medicine can lower the risk of passing HIV to her baby to less than 1%. Without treatment, the risk of a mother with HIV passing it to her baby is about 25% (in the United States).

If you are pregnant, get tested for HIV. Also, do not breastfeed your baby until you and your doctor are certain you don’t have HIV.

Fact: Lesbians can get HIV.

It is rare for women who have only ever had sex with women to get or pass HIV. But HIV can be passed through vaginal fluids and menstrual blood.

Avoid sex if you (or your partner) have HIV and either a yeast infection or your period. Also, do not share sex toys, because microscopic particles in the fluids on sex toys can pass HIV. You can also get HIV from drugs and shared needles or syringes.

Fact: Women of all ages, races and ethnicities, and sexual orientations can get HIV.

Any woman who has unprotected sex or shares needles or syringes with someone who is HIV-positive or whose HIV status is unknown is at risk for HIV.

HIV is not just a disease of gay men. In fact, worldwide, most people living with HIV are straight (heterosexual), and more than half of people living with HIV are women. In the United States, women make up about one in four people living with HIV.

Most women who are HIV-positive got HIV from unprotected sex with an HIV-positive male. 

Fact: You can get HIV from sharing needles or getting tattoos or body piercings.

Sharing needles is the second most common way that HIV is spread to women in the United States (sex is the most common way). Any woman who shares needles with someone who is HIV-positive or whose HIV status is unknown is at risk for HIV. 

It is also possible to get HIV from tattoo and piercing tools that are not sterilized correctly between clients. Tools that cut the skin should be used once and then thrown away or sterilized between uses.

Before you get a tattoo or have your body pierced, ask the right questions. Find out what steps the staff takes to prevent HIV and other infections, like hepatitis B and hepatitis C. You also can call your local health department to ask how tattoo shops should sterilize their tools. A new, sterilized needle should be used for each person.

Many, but not all, states regulate and issue permits for tattoo parlors. Before getting a tattoo, learn what regulations your tattoo parlor must follow and whether it has passed a health inspection.

Fact: HIV is not spread by mosquitoes, sweat, tears, pools, or casual contact.

Even if mosquitoes could carry the HIV virus, they do not inject blood into your skin. No transmission of this type has ever been reported around the world. Also, you cannot get HIV from shaking hands, using the toilet, or coming into contact with someone’s sweat or tears from their eyes. The only bodily fluids that are known to transmit HIV are semen, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, breastmilk, and blood (including menstrual blood).

The post Facts about HIV and AIDS for Women appeared first on Medika Life.

Being able to get an erection is often taken for granted and can be closely linked with how a man perceives himself, being part of their identity. When erection issues then arise, it can result in reduced confidence and self-esteem affecting how a man thinks about himself as a father, husband and in some cases, even at work. Issues with sexual performance can cause relationship problems too as men pull away emotionally from a partner, fearing that they cannot live up to expectations.

Causes of Erection Problems

Most men can experience trouble getting an erection when they are stressed, anxious, tired, or if they have drunk too much alcohol. These situations tend to remedy themselves without treatment and are not necessarily causes for concern.

Other causes can be subtle, while some are more serious and will need further medical investigation. Physical causes of erectile issues can include:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Neurological conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease
• Prostate problems, the most common being: enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, prostatitis
• Hormone problems, such as low testosterone

The actual medical treatments for these conditions can in some cases affect erectile function too. A conversation about this with a specialist or your doctor might prove very helpful.

There are, of course, certain emotional and lifestyle factors that can affect sexual performance too, some of which include:

Psychological or emotional factors:

• Depression or feeling low
• Anxieties
• Relationship issues
• Stress at home or at work
• Stress from social, cultural or religious conflicts
• Worry about sexual performance

Lifestyle factors:

• Smoking
• Drinking too much
• Some recreational drugs
• Being overweight

In this article, we will be looking at the medical treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Treatment of Erection Problems

Apart from living a healthy lifestyle and practicing self-care (which will be addressed in another article), there are a number of other treatments available:

Testosterone¹: Some medications can cause a drop in testosterone, the hormone that is thought to regulate a man’s sex drive. Occasionally this drop can have more natural causes; either way, a doctor or specialist can prescribe the hormone in pill format.

Tablets¹,²: You might have heard of Viagra but there are other similar types of drugs available too. These all belong to a group of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors) and include:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis)
• Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
• Avanafil (Stendra)

PDE5 inhibitors will enhance the effect of nitric oxide (Mayo Clinic³). Nitric oxide is a chemical the body produces naturally which relaxes the muscles in the penis making it easier for the blood to flow into this area. Please note that PDE5 inhibitors will not help you get psychologically or emotionally sexually aroused, which is a major factor in physical arousal and sexual satisfaction. In other words, you need to want and enjoy sexual stimulation for this medication to work.

Sildenafil, avanafil, and vardenafil can be taken when needed and will be effective for up to six hours. Tadalafil can work for up to 36 hours, providing the opportunity for intimacy to become more spontaneous. Note that these will only produce an erection with physical stimulation or psychological arousal.

Before taking any medication for erection problems, do talk with your doctor. There are some dangers if these are taken with certain other medications or if some medical conditions are present. Specifically, but not exclusively:

• Combined with nitrate drugs — commonly prescribed for chest pain (angina)
• Heart disease or heart failure
• Very low blood pressure (hypotension)

Injections¹,³: Injections in the side of the penis might seem extreme, perhaps off-putting and even painful, but many men find this method helpful and report that it doesn’t hurt. There are two drugs that can be used in this way:

• Alprostadil (Caverject®, Caverject® Dual Chamber, Viridal Duo®)
• Aviptadil with phentolamine mesilate (Invicorp®)

These drugs work similarly to the PDE5 inhibitors, by relaxing the muscles and blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow and an erection to occur. If this method is prescribed, the nurse or doctor will demonstrate how to inject the side of the penis using a very thin needle.

Once the penis is filled with blood, which usually happens within 10 minutes, the erection is likely to last up to an hour.

Pellets or cream¹,³: Alprostadil can be acquired in the form of a small pellet, called MUSE®, or as a cream called Vitaros®. Though they are said to not work as well as the injection, it may be an option if for any reason injections are out of the question.

The pellet or cream is inserted with an applicator into the opening of the penis. Inserting the pellets becomes easier when the opening is already moist, so is it worth urinating before attempting insertion. These usually work within 10 minutes and can last for up to an hour.

The cream, itself moisturising, may be a little easier to insert and some can also be used to massage into the penis to help absorb the drug better. Bear in mind that it does take a little longer for this method to work.

Vacuum pump¹,³: The instrument of a vacuum pump could seem a little medieval, but for some men, this works really quite well.

A vacuum pump consists of a manual or battery-operated pump and a plastic cylinder. This is used to create a vacuum around the penis, enabling the blood to be pulled into the penis, resulting in an erection.

Once you have an erection, the constriction ring which sits at the end of the cylinder is slipped around the base of the penis to stop the blood from flowing back into the body. This ring should not be worn for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

Implants¹: This could be the solution if no other treatment has worked. It involves having an operation to insert implants into the penis. The two possible options are:

• Semi-rigid rods that keep your penis consistently fairly firm but allow it to be bent down when you don’t want an erection.
• An inflatable implant in the penis and a pump in your scrotum (the skin around testicles). When you squeeze the pump the implant fills with fluid (saline) to make the penis hard. Your erection will last for as long as the implant is inflated, and you can deflate it when you want to.

Be warned

If you are experiencing any other health issues, one or more of these issues may be the cause of erectile dysfunction. Some men are reluctant to seek their doctor’s help when something physical isn’t feeling right. The importance, however, of getting the appropriate medical advice cannot be emphasised enough. The earlier that some conditions are detected, the sooner treatment can start and the associated risks minimised.

For example, the symptoms of prostate cancer are⁴:

• Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
• Needing to rush to the toilet
• Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
• Straining or taking a long time while peeing
• Weak flow
• Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
• Blood in urine or blood in semen

These symptoms need investigating as soon as possible. Prostate cancer kills 12,000 men each year in the UK alone¹; in the US this figure is 34,130⁵. Some of these deaths could be avoided with earlier detection. Don’t become part of this statistic!

If taking medication for erectile dysfunction while also taking medication for another condition, do make sure you seek advice from your doctor first. Some combinations of medication can be dangerous.

Of course, using methods such as those above will only work on a physical level. Emotional and psychological issues can have distressing effects on your sex life too and can influence your ability to have an erection or your enjoyment of physical intimacy. For these issues, it is always best to seek the help of a qualified and licensed (US) or registered (UK) therapist with experience of working with these specific issues.

References

¹ Prostate Cancer UK

² Urology Care Foundation

³ Mayo Clinic

⁴ NHS

⁵ American Cancer Society

The post 6 Ways to Treat Erection Problems appeared first on Medika Life.

70% of women experiencing low libido report increased sexual desire after using the techniques used in the app

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today, leading sexual wellness app Lover, has announced a series of educational courses within the app have been shown to help 92% of women who struggle to reach orgasm.¹ Additionally over 70% of women who report low sexual desire notice an uptick in their libido after using the exercises and content in the app. Lover’s featured exercises, courses and expert advice have been compiled based on years of scientific research in the field of sexual health, and help people address their sexual issues and get more of the sexual fulfillment they want. 

Lover was developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Britney Blair and her team of sexual health experts, with the goal of serving as an on-demand sex therapist and platform for sexual wellness. The app helps people discreetly and confidently learn about sex, address possible problems in their relationships and their sexual lives, and have better sex. When people sign up for the Lover app, the app conducts a comprehensive evaluation to assess their issues, questions, and possible problems, and then recommends expert advice and personalized exercises that can be done alone or with a partner.

The content in Lover is especially helpful for women who have concerns related to their sexual health, such as low sexual desire and difficulty reaching orgasm. Clinical studies have found that 10% of women have never had an orgasm in their lives,² and only 15-20% of women experience orgasm during sexual intercourse.³  Courses within the app that address pre-orgasmia include “Orgasm 101,” “Climaxing Consistently,” “Orgasms with a Partner” and “Driving Up Desire.” Since Lover’s launch in February, over 160,000 people have downloaded the app.

“Women deserve to experience sexual pleasure as part of a fulfilled and healthy life, and a big part of the solution is to help women understand the many ways they can experience pleasure and then prioritize their experience of sexual encounters,” said Dr. Britney Blair, Chief Science Officer of Lover. “Generations of Americans have received inadequate sexual education and have been bombarded with misleading and harmful messages from the media and in society about what ‘good sex’ really is. As a result, millions of women rarely or never have an orgasm.”

“There are tens of millions of women in the U.S. who have never had an orgasm or who are almost always left feeling unfulfilled by their sexual encounters,” said Dr. Blair. “Based on the results we’ve seen from our app’s user base, we believe that 92% of these women who struggle to experience orgasm could be helped by using the Lover app.” 

The Lover app is available on the App Store. More information is available at www.Lover.io

ABOUT LOVER
Founded in 2020 by serial entrepreneurs Jas Bagniewski and Nick Pendle along with Dr. Britney Blair, Lover is the leading personalized, science-based app for addressing your sexual concerns, increasing your pleasure and improving your skills in bed. It provides audio and video content, plus practical exercises, games and sexual profiles, all designed to improve your sex life. Lover has raised $5M in seed funding led by Lerer Hippeau. Additional investors include Sean Rad, co-founder of Tinder; Manta Ray Ventures; Global Founders Capital; Fabrice Grinda; and Jose Marin.

Media Contact:
Lindsay Stevens
257350@email4pr.com 
+1-213-200-9638

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17973068/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3044590/ 
3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/all-about-sex/200903/the-most-important-sexual-statistic 

SOURCE Lover

Related Links

http://www.lover.io/

The post Lover, the App That Helps Women Reach Orgasm appeared first on Medika Life.

One hundred fifty-eight million Americans are now under some type of quarantine, and cabin fever is kicking in. Staying home and being alone is harder than we thought.

Endless hours of Facebook passes the time, but we are growing tired of cat pictures on Instagram. Alerts from Snapchat grow tiresome. We have worn out Netflix and Candy crush is getting old.

People may be tempted to check out a favorite dating app like Tinder, Bumble, or Grinder seeking some companionship.

Now is not the time to swipe right.

Covid-19 Basics

Coronavirus is a new virus. This means the human race has never been exposed. We have no baseline immunity or protective antibodies. We do not have a vaccine or effective medication to treat it. We are all susceptible to becoming sick with Covid-19.

Covid-19 is spread through person-to-person contact via respiratory droplets. Droplets first spread through coughing, sneezing, and respiratory particles. These particles get on our clothes and hands. We then pass the virus through handshakes, hugging, kissing, and other close human contacts.

Each one of us and every item we touch is a potential transmission source. Evidence now reveals people are highly infectious before they begin to show symptoms. To protect ourselves and each other, we must limit close contact with others.

As much as we don’t want to hear it, sex counts as close human contact.

Can we have sex?

Clear cut guidance on sexual contact is unclear. Much is unknown regarding Covid-19 transmission. Sexual contact involves close contact. Respiratory droplets are transmitted through saliva, mucous and physical touch.

If you and your sexual partner are following social distancing guidelines and sheltering in place together, then there is no evidence you should avoid sex. If your partner is showing symptoms such as cough, sneezing, sore throat, fever, or any other viral symptoms then sexual contact should be avoided.

Early in the pandemic, the CDC stated that Covid-19 has not been found in semen, vaginal or cervical secretions. It has been found in feces. Analingus should be avoided. Recent studies show Covid-19 has been detected in semen. The question of sexual transmission of Sars-Cov-2 is back on the table.

Healthcare workers must make adjustments. Healthcare workers may be exposed at work making us potential asymptomatic carriers. Social distancing from the health-care worker is likely warranted. This means changes in sexual practices are necessary.

Some healthcare workers choose to shower, wear a mask, and avoid kissing during sex. These steps seem reasonable, but there is no clear cut scientific guidance to indicate if this is safe or not.

You are your safest sexual partner

New York City public health has released a public service guide to sex during the pandemic. The message is,“You are your safest sexual partner.” There are no restrictions on masturbation. You can not give yourself Covid-19.

Mashable reports a sudden spike in sales for sex toys and aids. Given the unknowns regarding Covid-19, self-stimulation is likely the safest option.

For those who choose to ignore guidelines

We all must take the proper precautions to keep each other safe. For those who decide to disregard the guidelines, please use condoms, birth control, and consider PrEP therapy.

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEp therapy is a prescription antiviral medication to prevent HIV infection for those at risk. When taken daily, PrEP is highly effective at preventing the acquisition of the HIV Virus. It can reduce the risk by 99%.

Sheltering in place

We all must do our part to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Sheltering in place will not work if only some of us follow the guidelines.

We will succeed if we all do our part. We are in this together.

Do I still need condoms?

Safe sex practices with latex or polyurethane condoms are recommended unless you are in a monogamous relationship with a trusted partner. Condoms should still be used even if you are on PrEP as it does not prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, HPV or any other STD.

What to do if you feel sick?

As testing availability increases across the country, we will see an increase in the number of cases. Many more will experience symptoms. It is tempting to go to a hospital or urgent care facility for testing. For the vast majority of patients, an ER visit is a wrong move with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Only those experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, need in-person medical evaluation.

Each patient who presents to an ER exposes other patients and medical providers to the infection. Once exposed, the medical provider is quarantined and removed from duty. We are seeing doctors and nurses getting sick all over the country. We need as many doctors, nurses, and hospital staff to care for those in need as possible.

The post Is Sex Safe During the Covid-19 pandemic? appeared first on Medika Life.

What unique challenges do women face in preventing HIV?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some prevention challenges are unique to women:

• Women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy and birth and through breastfeeding.
• A woman’s anatomy makes it easier to get HIV through sex compared with a man’s anatomy.
• Having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) raises a woman’s risk for HIV more than a man’s.
• Women are more likely to lack control in relationships and fear violence, stigma, or abandonment when trying to prevent HIV exposure.
• Women are more likely to be victims of sexual abuse. People with a history of sexual abuse are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors like exchanging sex for drugs, having multiple partners, or having sex with a partner who is physically abusive when asked to use a condom.

How can I prevent HIV?

The best way to prevent HIV is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex or share needles at any time. Sharing needles for any reason is very risky.

If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:

• Use condoms. Male latex condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and other STIs when you have sex. Because a man does not need to ejaculate (come) to give or get some STIs, make sure to put the condom on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus. Female condoms can also help to prevent HIV infection. Other methods of birth control, like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms, will not protect you from STIs.
• Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are tested for HIV and other STIs. Talk to each other about the test results before you have sex. Having an STI increases your chances of becoming infected with HIV during sex. If your partner has an STI in addition to HIV, that also increases your risk of HIV infection. If you have an STI, you should also get tested for HIV.
• Be monogamous. Having sex with just one partner can lower your risk for HIV and other STIs. After being tested for STIs, be faithful to each other. That means that you have sex only with each other and no one else.
• Limit your number of sexual partners. Your risk of getting HIV and other STIs goes up with the number of partners you have.
• Get vaccinated. You can get a vaccine to protect against HPV and hepatitis B, which are STI’s. There is no vaccine to prevent or treat HIV.
• Don’t douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection. This may increase your risk of getting HIV and other STIs.
• Do not abuse alcohol or drugs. Alcohol or drug abuse may lead to risky behaviors such as sharing needles to inject drugs or not using a condom when you have sex.

The steps work best when used together. No single step can protect you from every single type of STI.

Male latex condoms are a highly effective way to prevent HIV and other STIs, but almost one in every five women who uses only condoms for birth control gets pregnant. The best way to prevent both STIs and pregnancy is to use a latex condom along with another highly effective method of birth control such as an intrauterine device (IUD), an implant, or the shot.

Can I take medicine to prevent getting or passing HIV?

Yes. Several medicines are available to help lower your risk of getting or passing HIV:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP is an HIV prevention method for people who do not have HIV infection but who may be at high risk. PrEP is a pill you take by mouth every day.

Talk to your doctor about PrEP if:

• You are HIV-negative but your partner is HIV-positive (known as serodiscordant or mixed-status couples)
• You are not in a monogamous relationship (you or your partner also have sex with other people) and you do not always use condoms
• You inject illegal drugs or share needles
• You have a partner who is HIV-positive, and you want to get pregnant. PrEP may help protect you and your baby.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that PrEP could prevent transmission in as many as 140,000 serodiscordant heterosexual couples. Learn more about PrEP.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP is an anti-HIV medicine for people who may have been very recently exposed to HIV. If you think you have been exposed (for example, if a condom breaks), or if you were sexually assaulted, talk to your doctor or nurse about taking PEP.

You must take PEP within three days of exposure to help lower your risk for HIV. You then take two to three antiretroviral medicines for 28 days to prevent the virus from copying itself and spreading through your body.

While taking PEP, you still need to take steps to prevent HIV, including using a condom with sex partners. 

Antiretroviral medicines

If you are HIV-positive, taking antiretroviral (ARV) medicine can reduce your viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) to keep you healthy. Knowing your viral load measurement and how to control it by reducing it to undetectable levels can protect your unborn baby during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It can also help prevent spreading HIV to your sexual partner.

What are some behaviors that can raise a woman’s risk for HIV?

Behaviors that raise a woman’s risk for HIV include:

• Having sex with a male partner who has had sex with another man or who has used intravenous (IV) drugs. Sex with a man is the most common way women are infected with HIV.
• Using injection drugs and sharing needles. This is the second most common way that HIV is spread.
• Abusing drugs and alcohol. This can lead to risky behavior, including having sex without a condom, not knowing a partner’s HIV status, or injecting drugs.

Women who drink alcohol or use drugs may also be at higher risk of sexual assault or rape, which may put you at risk for HIV. If you are assaulted or raped, you need to see a doctor right away. Your doctor may decide that you should get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). These drugs may lower your chances of getting HIV after you have been exposed to the virus. But these drugs work only if you see a doctor within three days of exposure.

How can I prevent HIV if I inject drugs?

Intravenous (IV) drug users who share needles are at high risk for HIV. Sharing needles can place another person’s blood right into your body, even if the amount is so small that you can’t see it on the needle.

People who inject steroids, insulin, or medicines for other health problems are at risk for HIV if they do not use sterilized needles every time. Whenever you need to use a needle, be sure that it is sterilized. Do not share needles with anyone. You can also get HIV if the equipment used for body piercings and tattoos is not sterilized.

If you inject drugs or medicines, follow these steps to lower your risk of getting HIV:

• Never reuse or “share” needles, syringes, water, or drug preparation equipment.
• Only use needles and syringes that you got from a reliable source (such as drugstores or needle exchange programs).
• Use a new, sterile needle or syringe each time.
• If you must use a needle used by others, clean it with bleach before using it.
• If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs; otherwise, use clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap water).
• Use a new or disinfected container (“cooker”) and a new filter (“cotton”) to prepare drugs.
• Clean the injection site with a new alcohol swab prior to injection.
• Throw away needles and syringes after one use. Do not throw them in the regular trash. You can use an old laundry detergent or milk jug to collect used needles and syringes and then seal the container before disposing of it. Check with your local health department about the correct way to throw away the container.
• Don’t share needles or syringes with friends or family.

How can I prevent HIV if I get tattoos or body piercings?

Follow these steps to lower your risk of getting HIV:

• Ask questions about how the staff sterilizes their equipment. Single-use instruments that cut the skin should be used once and then thrown away. Reusable instruments that cut the skin should be cleaned and sterilized between uses.
• Find out what steps the staff takes to prevent HIV and other infections, like hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
• Make sure your tattoo parlor follows state regulations and health inspections.

I’m pregnant and have HIV. Will my baby get HIV?

If you are getting treatment for HIV, the answer is most likely no. When HIV medicine is used consistently and correctly, a pregnant woman living with HIV who is treated for HIV early in her pregnancy can lower the risk of delivering a baby with HIV to less than 1%. Without treatment, this risk is about 25% in the United States.

All women need to be tested for HIV during their first prenatal care visit, early in the pregnancy. High-risk women who get a negative HIV test result should be tested again later in pregnancy.

Treatment, called antiretroviral therapy, works best when it is:

• Started as early as possible in pregnancy
• Also given during labor and delivery
• Given to the infant after birth

If you are HIV-positive and your viral load is greater than 1,000 copies per milliliter, your doctor may recommend delivering your baby by cesarean (C-section).

I have HIV. Can I breastfeed my baby?

No. If you have HIV, do not breastfeed. In the United states and other countries where clean water is available, using a breastmilk substitute like formula is strongly recommended for women with HIV, because you can pass the virus to your baby through breastmilk.

You can also ask your doctor, midwife, or pediatrician about getting human breastmilk from a milk bank. Find a human milk bank through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.

Recommendations about breastfeeding with HIV may be different for other countries where clean water is not always available.

How can I help protect my children from HIV?

One way to help protect your children from HIV is to talk to them about HIV, AIDS, and the sexual behaviors that raise their risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The earlier you start talking about it, the better. By the third grade, almost all children have heard about HIV.

According to a 2013 national survey of high school students:

• About half of all students have had sex at least once
• One-third are sexually active (have had sex in the past three months)
• Nearly half of the students who are sexually active did not use a condom the last time they had sex

Offsite Resources

For more information about HIV prevention check out the following resources from other organizations:

• Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents — Clinical guidelines from AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• HIV Risk and Prevention — Information from the CDC.
• The Basics of HIV Prevention — Fact sheet from AIDS.
• Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States — 2014 — Clinical practice guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Public Health Service.

The post HIV Prevention for Women appeared first on Medika Life.

Should I get tested for HIV?

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, get tested for HIV if you are:

• Older than 15. All women and girls older than 15 need to be tested at least once.
• Pregnant. Every pregnant woman should have an HIV test as early as possible in the pregnancy. You need to get tested even if you have been tested before. Also, consider getting tested for HIV if you plan to get pregnant.

Some women with HIV don’t know they have it, because HIV may not cause symptoms for several years. 
Even if HIV causes no symptoms, it is still causing problems with your body’s immune system that need to be treated as soon as possible.

Some women who test negative assume their partners must be HIV-negative too. But your HIV test reveals only your status, not your partner’s.

When should I get tested for HIV?

If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, get tested. But testing right away may not pick up early HIV infection. The first HIV test taken soon after infection may say that you do not have HIV even if you do. That is because some HIV tests look for antibodies (the body’s natural immune response to a foreign invader) that your body may not have developed yet.

If you get HIV, your body will usually begin to develop antibodies within three to 12 weeks (21 to 84 days). The time between being exposed and developing antibodies is called the “window period.”

There are newer HIV tests available that can tell whether you are HIV-positive early after exposure to the virus. One of the newer tests looks for the virus itself, by testing for viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) and a marker on the virus called p24 antigen. This test is much more sensitive. It can detect HIV within nine to 11 days after exposure. This type of test may be more expensive. Ask your doctor if this test is available when you get tested for HIV.

How can I get free HIV testing?

Many clinics and doctors’ offices have free or low-cost HIV testing. If you have health insurance, you may be able to get free HIV testing under the Affordable Care Act (the health care law). HIV screening and counseling for women are covered without cost sharing in most private health insurance plans. Medicaid also covers certain recommended preventive services, including HIV screening for women at higher risk for HIV, without cost sharing or deductibles.

HIV testing for people with Medicare is usually covered once every 12 months. Pregnant women with Medicare can get up to three HIV tests for free during pregnancy.

Ask if the newer HIV test, which picks up infection earlier, is available when you get tested for HIV.

The Three HIV Tests explained

There are three types of tests available: nucleic acid tests (NAT), antigen/antibody tests, and antibody tests. HIV tests are typically performed on blood or oral fluid. They may also be performed on urine.

• A NAT looks for the actual virus in the blood and involves drawing blood from a vein. The test can either tell if a person has HIV or tell how much virus is present in the blood (known as an HIV viral load test). While a NAT can detect HIV sooner than other types of tests, this test is very expensive and not routinely used for screening individuals unless they recently had a high-risk exposure or a possible exposure and have early symptoms of HIV infection.
• An antigen/antibody test looks for both HIV antibodies and antigens. Antibodies are produced by your immune system when you’re exposed to viruses like HIV. Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate. If you have HIV, an antigen called p24 is produced even before antibodies develop. Antigen/antibody tests are recommended for testing done in labs and are now common in the United States. This lab test involves drawing blood from a vein. There is also a rapid antigen/antibody test available that is done with a finger prick.
• HIV antibody tests only look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid. Most rapid tests and the only currently approved HIV self-test are antibody tests.

Talk to your health care provider about what type of HIV test is right for you.

How long does it take to get results?

• Laboratory tests (NATand antigen/antibody) require blood to be drawn from your vein into a tube and then that blood is sent to a laboratory for testing. The results may take several days to be available.
• With a rapid antibody screening test, usually done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid, results are ready in 30 minutes or less.
• The rapid antigen/antibody test is done with a finger prick and takes 30 minutes or less.
• The oral fluid antibody self-test provides results within 20 minutes.

How soon after an exposure to HIV can a test detect if I have the virus?

No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after infection. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, talk to your health care provider about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), right away.

The time between when a person may have been exposed to HIV and when a test can tell for sure whether they have the virus is called the window period. The window period varies from person to person and depends on the type of test used to detect HIV. Ask your health care provider or test counselor about the window period for the test you’re taking.

• A nucleic acid test (NAT)can usually tell you if you have HIV infection 10 to 33 days after an exposure.
• An antigen/antibody test performed by a laboratory on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after an exposure. Antigen/ antibody tests done with blood from a finger prick can take longer to detect HIV (18 to 90 days after an exposure).
• Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days to detect HIV infection after an exposure. Most rapid tests and self-tests are antibody tests. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid.

The post Getting Tested for HIV. What Women Need to Know. appeared first on Medika Life.