Sexual activity:

• Abstaining from sexual intercourse
• Having sex with only one partner and you and your partner are monogamous (only participating in sex or sexual activities with each other)
• Having protected sex using condoms (male or female) correctly and consistently. Reminder: While spermicides may prevent pregnancy, they do not protect against HIV
• Engaging in activities that are safe such as kissing, masturbation, mutual masturbation and massage

Drug use:

• Do not share equipment (needles, syringes, cookers, cotton or rinse water)
• Always use new equipment for each injection
• If you share equipment, clean syringes with bleach and water several times
• Use community resources such as needle exchange programs

Mother to child transmission:

• Being aware of one’s HIV status
• Consider taking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and labour
• Reduce the baby’s exposure to mother’s bodily fluids: consider the best course of delivery (i.e. caesarean section)
• Mothers with HIV are advised not to breastfeed: breast milk may be available from a milk bank

Blood transfusions and medical procedures:

• All blood supplies are screened in British Columbia and therefore carry no risk of HIV transmission
• When travelling, it is advisable to know the medical procedures of the country you are visiting
• Ensure a new or sterilized needle is used for each injection

Tattooing and piercing:

• When getting tattoos or piercing, ensure that the shop is reputable and uses only new or sterilized equipment
• Artists should take care not to dip into a large quantity of ink. Instead each individual should have their own small pot of ink as to avoid contamination

Health care workers:

• Most effective way to limit the risk of infection is to practice universal precautions
• Wash hands thoroughly; use protective gloves, eyewear, etc.

Microbicides are currently unavailable for use as clinical research is still taking place to ensure the safety and efficacy of these substances. To date, there are at least eleven product leads that have been proven effective and safe on animals and are presently being tested on humans. If one of these leads proves successful, it is possible that microbicides may be available in five to seven years time.

Microbicides are substances that would be able to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STI’s. These substances can take many forms including creams, films, gels, suppositories, or as a sponge or ring that releases the active ingredients over time.

To help prevent the transmission of the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), individuals should be aware of their own HIV status. In an ideal world, individuals would be aware of their partners’ status. However this is not always the case due to the following reasons:

• Difficulty and/or discomfort when discussing previous sexual or drug related history.
• Difficulty and/or discomfort when discussing sex or sexual issues.
• Fear of being stigmatized or discriminated against.
• Difficulty disclosing HIV status for fear of violence, rejection, abandonment, or of their status becoming public knowledge.
• Does not consider themselves or their partner(s) to be at risk for HIV.

There are a number of things individuals can do to protect themselves from HIV transmission. Awareness and education are paramount in the prevention of HIV transmission.

Some individuals falsely assume that they are not at risk for HIV because they are not from a group that is currently considered “high risk” in Canada such as gay men, intravenous drug users, or people of Aboriginal descent. However it is important to keep in mind that the face of HIV is complex and more importantly, that HIV does not discriminate and can infect anyone regardless of their age, social status, economic status, sexual orientation, ability and racial or ethnic origin.