AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease
that makes it difficult for the body to fight off infectious
diseases. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS by
infecting and damaging part of the body's defenses against
infection, namely the white blood cells known as CD4 helper
lymphocytes (pronounced: lim-fuh-sites). How does someone become
infected? HIV can be spread through any type of unprotected sex
(oral, vaginal, or anal) if one of the partners has the virus.
This can happen when body fluids such as semen (cum), vaginal
fluids, or blood from an infected person get into the body of
someone who is not infected. Someone can become infected even if
only tiny amounts of these fluids are spread. Everyone who has
unprotected sex with an infected person is at risk of
contracting HIV, but people who already have another sexually
transmitted disease (STD) are even more at risk. HIV can be
spread sexually from a guy to a girl, a girl to a guy, a guy to
a guy, and a girl to a girl. Shari