What is HIV? The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly known as
HIV, is spread when infected bodily fluids from one person enter
another person’s body. Pre-cum, semen, vaginal fluids, blood,
and breast milk are the fluids that can transmit the virus.
Unprotected sex is the most common way people get infected with
HIV in the U.S., followed by sharing needles. HIV attacks the
very cells which normally defend the body against illness.
Eventually, HIV weakens the immune system to such an extent that
the body can no longer fight off other diseases and infections.
What is AIDS? AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is
the most advanced stage of HIV. There are two ways that doctors
decide when a person infected with HIV is considered to have
advanced to an AIDS diagnosis: From other infections: When a
person’s immune system is so weakened by HIV that one or more
specific illnesses, called opportunistic infections, takes hold.
These illnesses do not generally affect a person with a healthy
immune system. From