HIV and sexually transmitted infections: what you need to know today
Let's be clear. Although it seems a well-known topic, it continues to generate doubts. And that's normal. Between simplified messages, memories of old campaigns and a lot of scattered information on social media, it's not always clear what has changed, what remains the same, and what really needs to be kept in mind.
HIV, AIDS and STIs: not exactly the same thing
The first thing is to clarify concepts.
HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is the most advanced stage of this infection when it is not adequately controlled. They are not synonymous. Furthermore, today there is increasing talk of STIs, sexually transmitted infections, because many do not produce immediate symptoms and a person can transmit them without knowing it.
This difference is not minor. Talking about the topic correctly helps to understand it better, reduces confusion and avoids common mistakes.
Why it remains an important issue
Sometimes there is a feeling that HIV is no longer a concern as it once was because effective treatments exist today. But it is one thing that clinical management has improved greatly, and quite another that the problem has disappeared.
The WHO reminds us that HIV is still incurable, although with adequate prevention, diagnosis and treatment it can become a manageable chronic condition. Furthermore, STIs continue to have a huge impact: it is estimated that more than one million curable STIs are acquired worldwide every day.
How it is transmitted and what really protects
HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It is not transmitted through kissing, hugging, sharing food or living with someone with HIV.
In prevention, condoms remain a central tool. Used correctly and consistently, they help prevent the transmission of HIV and most STIs, as well as unplanned pregnancies.
However, today prevention is not only limited to condoms. The current approach also includes HIV testing, diagnosis of other STIs, sex education, professional assessment of each situation and, in certain cases, biomedical strategies such as PrEP or PEP.
The problem with many STIs is that they can go unnoticed
Here is one of the big pitfalls of the topic. Many STIs can occur without symptoms or with very subtle signs. And that makes relying only on "what I feel" a bad strategy.
The WHO reminds us that many STIs do not present symptoms. And the Ministry of Health insists that HIV testing is the only reliable way to know if there is an infection.
What has changed today: treatment, PrEP, PEP and undetectable viral load
This is the part that has evolved the most and the one that is often explained poorly.
Today we know that HIV is not curable, but we also know that antiretroviral treatment allows the infection to be controlled, health protected and transmission reduced. In fact, when a person with HIV is on treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load, they do not transmit HIV sexually.
We also know that specific preventive tools exist. PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis for people without HIV in certain situations of greater exposure, and PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis that should be started as soon as possible and within 72 hours after possible exposure.
What to remember to take care of your sexual health more wisely
The conclusion should not be "to be afraid", but to better understand the context.
It is worth remembering three simple ideas. The first: HIV is still preventable and treatable, but it is not cured. The second: many STIs may not show symptoms. And the third: today prevention works best when it combines information, condoms, tests when appropriate and professional assessment according to each case.
If there has been recent exposure or a specific doubt, the most sensible thing is not to improvise. A doctor, a reference health centre or the pharmacist can guide you on the next steps, tests and adequate timings.
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