Original PDF Flash format hIV-/-aIds  


HIV / AIds

englisch
anglais
inglese
English
hIV / aIds
what are the rIsks
and what’s safe
InformatIon for women
aIds Is a dangerous dIsease... and it is stil incurable.
AIDS has spread al over the world, and it is also a serious problem in
Switzerland.
AIDS is the result of an infection with the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (known as hIV). If you are infected with HIV, your immune system
– the body’s ability to defend itself against disease – weakens over the
years. There comes a time when your body is no longer able to fight
off many il nesses. You get sick, then sicker. This condition is what we
cal AIDS.
ProtectIon: This leaflet shows you where you are at risk of
becoming infected with HIV. And how you and your partner(s) can pro-
tect yourselves effectively against HIV / AIDS!
aIds Is Incurable... but there are medicines which slow down
the course of an HIV infection. In Switzerland, everybody – no matter
what their residence status – has the right to effective medical treatment.
HIV treatment works best when it is started at the right time. If you
don’t know you are infected, you miss the best time to begin. So it’s
important to find out whether you are infected with HIV or not. For
more information see overleaf.
rIsks
usIng a condom
hIV is transmitted during sexual contact without a condom.
It helps if you, as a woman, know how a condom is used. You
a condom (or the femidom ® *) gives you the best protection
should also make sure you have some available in case your
against hIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in any
partner hasn’t got any.
sexual contact.

only use condoms with the «ok» quality stamp and in the right
anal sex wIthout a condom
size. available in supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies or
at www.mysize.ch.

Very high risk

for woman and man, with or without ejaculation

1. make sure the package is intact.

Protect yourself:
Use a condom and enough lubricant


2. open the package carefully by tearing along
the perforated line; take the condom out.
VagInal sex wIthout a condom

high risk


3. Pull back the foreskin (unless your partner is

for woman and man, with or without ejaculation
circumcised).

Protect yourself: Use a condom (or a Femidom®*)

4. hold the rolled up condom by the reservoir end
between your thumb and index finger and place
oral sex wIthout ProtectIon
it on the tip of the erect penis. the ring at the
base of the condom should be on the outside.

Potential risk

Protect yourself: Avoid semen in your mouth!


5. unroll the condom over the penis. It should

Avoid swal owing semen!
unroll smoothly and easily. If there is any


Avoid having oral sex with a woman during her period.
difficulty, the condom is probably too big or too
small, or you’ve put it on the wrong way round

(with the ring on the inside).
(* For information on the Femidom®, the condom for women, see


6. after ejaculation and before the penis softens,
overleaf.)
hold the condom firmly in place at the base
(if the man doesn’t do this himself) and ease the
penis out.
other means of
transmIttIng hIV
no rIsk from
from an Infected mother to her chIld



using workplace toilets and
washrooms


An infected mother can pass HIV on to her child during
pregnancy, labour and delivery or breastfeeding.

Very high risk


sneezing, coughing

Protection: 1) Medication and HIV treatment for
pregnant women; 2) Caesarian section; 3) Formula feed-
ing rather than breastfeeding


If you are already pregnant or you want to become
pregnant, make sure that you seek advice on HIV / Aids



shaking hands, stroking
and have an HIV test. This can prevent your child from
hugging
becoming infected.
InjectIng drugs



eating from the same plate


HIV can be transmitted by drug users sharing syringes
drinking from the same glass
and needles.

Very high risk

Protect yourself: Use sterile injecting equipment


Insect bites
(syringes, needles, filters, cotton wool, spoon, water);


swimming pools, saunas
don’t share injecting equipment with other users.


If you don’t take these precautions, you additional y run
a high risk of getting infected with the hepatitis C virus
(HCV), which is also very dangerous.
This list shows that there is no risk of transmitting or becoming
surgerY / cIrcumcIsIons
infected with hIV in everyday contact. There is no reason to
be afraid of people infected with HIV/Aids or to exclude them from
Very high risk
society.
If the equipment (syringe, knife, needle….) used in surgery and in
circumcisions, tattooing, etc. is not sterile and is used on different
no risk either from:
people, there is a chance that HIV may be transmitted. HIV can also
be transmitted through a blood transfusion if the blood has not been


kissing or mutual masturbation
screened.


Protected sex (with a condom)
no risk
In Switzerland, there are no cases of HIV being transmitted through
surgical treatment carried out by recognised medical practitioners.
other sexuallY
InformatIon on the
transmItted dIseases
femIdom®
apart from hIV / aids, sexual intercourse can result in the
If you can’t persuade your partner to use a condom, try the
transmission of other diseases, e.g. gonorrhoea, herpes,
Femidom®. Many men have less difficulty with a Femidom® than with
syphilis, chlamydia or hepatitis b.
a condom.
The Femidom® is a condom for women. It is inserted in the vagina
sYmPtoms and comPlaInts see a doctor!
before sexual intercourse – several hours before if necessary.
These diseases often cause certain complaints.
Like the condom, it acts as a contraceptive device (against pregnancy)
Unusual, often strongly smel ing discharge from the vagina
and protects both partners from infection with HIV and other sexual y
Itching, smal blisters, ulcerations, or sores on the labia or in the
transmitted diseases.
vagina; inflammation in the genital area
At the beginning, many women find the Femidom® rather strange,
Pain and burning sensation when urinating
but most get used to it after a while.
Pain or burning sensation during sexual intercourse
You can buy the Femidom® and get information/advice on how to
Bright red palate or throat
use it from drugstores and pharmacies. Or you can order one from
Bleeding between monthly periods; irregular menstruation
www.shop.aids.ch at a special price.
Pains in the lower abdomen
Problems with bowel movements
InformatIon on condoms
Dul pain in the rectum, discharge from the rectum
Ulcerations, smal blisters on the anus
and lubrIcants
If you have any of these symptoms, go to the doctor immediately!
exPIrY date / storIng condoms
Do not use condoms which have passed their expiry date (see date on
note: hIV infection does not cause these symptoms! The only
package). – Keep condoms away from direct light and sharp objects.
way to find out if you are infected is to go for a test.
lubrIcants
consequences
If necessary, use generous amounts of water-based lubricant (gel
If recognised in time, many of these diseases can be cured. Left
which makes penetration easier), available in supermarkets, drug-
untreated, they can have severe consequences (e.g. cancer, infertility),
stores and pharmacies. Never use Vaseline, body lotion, massage oil
and they seriously increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV.
or cooking oil.
what can I do If…
Protect Yourself: bY usIng a condom
a condom bursts or tears and my partner is definitely or very
A condom gives the best protection from these diseases during vagi-
likely hIV positive? If you go to an AIDS support organisation or a
nal and anal intercourse, as wel as for oral sex. The Femidom® gives
hospital the very next day at the latest, specialists can tel you what
protection during vaginal intercourse.
you can do. There is a real chance of stopping the infection, but there
is no simple, guaranteed treatment in this situation.
more InformatIon and
be resPonsIble!
counsellIng
Women are strong and can take responsibility. – Men are not always
counsellIng
faithful. If you have the slightest doubt about your partner’s fidelity,
at any aIds support organisation: Cal or drop in. If you want, you
talk to him about the problem and insist on using condoms (or the
can receive counsel ing without having to give your name.
Femidom®) for sexual intercourse. Go for an HIV test together.
from a doctor: Don’t hesitate to ask a doctor questions about
HIV / Aids. Doctors are bound to observe confidentiality.
The risk of becoming infected as a result of unprotected sex is even
Doctors are not al owed to pass on information about what you say or
greater for women than for men. The condom (or the Femidom®) pro-
the results of an examination to anybody at al – including your partner,
tects both you and the people you have sex with.
the immigration authorities, your employer, asylum reception / transit
centre staff, community home staff, prison staff, etc.
note
language Problems
If you have always had sex without a condom and haven’t become
Find out the languages in which counsel ing is available. You may have
infected, then you have just been incredibly lucky. there is still a
to bring with you someone who can translate / interpret for you. (Infor-
very high risk of infection every time you have sexual inter-
mation on suitable translators / interpreters under www.eka-cfe.ch/d/
course without a condom!
Doku/vermittlungsstel en.pdf or from an AIDS support organisation)
more InformatIon
«couple – contraception – aids – rights – Pregnancy»:
sexual Intercourse wIthout a condom Is onlY safe
Detailed information on al aspects of contraception.
under all three of the followIng condItIons:
copies of this leaflet or other leaflets are available from:
Swiss AIDS Federation, Postfach 1118, 8031 Zurich
You are in a long-term relationship
to order: phone 044 447 11 13, fax 044 447 11 14
You and your partner have sex only with each other
e-mail shop@aids.ch, or go to www.shop.aids.ch
You have both had an hIV test (preferably together), which
for other information: phone 044 447 11 11, fax 044 447 11 12
shows that you are not infected with the hIV virus
e-mail aids@aids.ch, or go to www.aids.ch
Ask an AIDS support organisation for information leaflets in your lan-
Is this the situation in your case? are you absolutely sure?
guage, or go to www.migesplus.ch
This leaflet is available in the following languages:
albanisch, albanais, albanese, Albanian
russisch, russe, russo, Russian
amharisch, amharique, amarico, Amharic
serbisch / kroatisch / bosnisch, serbe / croate / bosniaque,
arabisch, arabe, arabo, Arabic
serbo / croato / bosniaco, Serbian / Croatian / Bosnian
deutsch, al emand, tedesco, German
somalisch, somalien, somalo, Somali
englisch, anglais, inglese, English
spanisch, espagnol, spagnolo, Spanish
© Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Swiss AIDS Federation, 2006, 2007
französisch, français, francese, French
suaheli, swahili, swahili, Swahili
italienisch, italien, italiano, Italian
tamilisch, tamoul, tamil, Tamil
text / editor: L. Meyer layout by: Herrmann Germann / Bienz translated by / Proofread
portugiesisch, portugais, portoghese, Portuguese
thai, thaï, thai, Thai
by: Chris Ricketts / Christopher Park Printed by: Mengis, Visp 2nd impression: 9900
rumänisch, roumain, rumeno, Romanian
türkisch, turc, turco, Turkish
haVe I become Infected?
If you don’t find out that you are infected with hIV early
enough, you miss the best time to start hIV treatment.
hIV test
You can only find out if you have become infected with HIV by tak-
ing an HIV test. At the beginning of an HIV infection, there may be no
symptoms or health problems at al . There are no clear indications of
an early HIV infection. You can’t tel if someone has recently become
infected just from looking at them.
As a rule, you should get tested three months after your last exposure
to risk (e.g. sexual intercourse without a condom). This three-month
‘window period’ is always necessary to obtain a reliable result. But if
you are infected with HIV, you can pass the virus on to other people
even during these three months.
If the test result is «HIV negative», you have not become infected with
the virus that causes AIDS. If the result is «HIV positive», it means that
you have an HIV infection.
nobodY needs to know
You can take the test in major hospitals or directly in laboratories with-
out having to give your name. This means that nobody can find out if
you have gone to get tested or what the result is.
counsellIng before the test
Before you go for the test, be sure to seek counsel ing at an AIDS
support organisation, hospital or laboratory, or from your doctor. Or
talk to your asylum case worker.
For (anonymous) information on addresses, fact sheets, test centres,
etc. and to order materials, contact: 044 447 11 11 / www.aids.ch
Or directly at: