December 2, 2016.
In 2015, nearly 6,000 people were infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). How to protect yourself and what are the mistakes to avoid?
What to do in case of unsafe sex?
” Every two minutes a new teenager, most often a young girl, becomes infected with HIV “, explains Antony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF. ” If we want to end AIDS, we must give this battle all the urgency it deserves and redouble our efforts. “. World AIDS Day, which took place on Thursday 1er December, is each year the opportunity to remember that certain reflexes must be adopted urgently to guard against this deadly virus.
We cannot remember it enough: the only effective weapon against AIDS is the condom. But it can happen that this condom breaks. In this case, what behavior to adopt? Within hours of unsafe sex, go to the emergency room and seek post-exposure treatment (TPE). This treatment is free but don’t drag it out, the sooner it is taken, the more effective it is.
What to do when you ignore your partner’s state of health?
It is still estimated at 30,000 the number of people who do not know they are infected. In this case, as a precautionary principle, always have condoms handy. If you remember having unprotected sex with someone whose state of health you did not know, go to a pharmacy to buy a self-test.
This self-test costs between € 20 and € 28, it is not reimbursed but it can be delivered without a prescription. It also has the advantage of allowing you to take the test at home, in peace, far from any medical context. If you want to avoid paying, you can take a blood test at a screening center. This test is free but can only be done six weeks after the risky report.
To read also: International Conference on AIDS: where are we?
