1.5. What increases the risk of becoming infected?

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
* STIs are infections that pass from one person to another, mainly through sexual intercourse. There are lots of different types of STIs: syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, genital warts or crabs (lice). HIV is the only type of STI that causes AIDS. It is the most serious STI - the others are easily treatable and curable.
* Getting an STI (besides HIV) increases the chance of HIV infection. The sores on your penis or vagina help the HIV enter your body through the broken skin, which cannot act as a barrier to HIV. These sores can also start to bleed during sex and this will make it easier for the HIV to enter your body. A discharge also makes it easier to get HIV.
* An untreated STI can make someone who is HIV positive more infectious. For example, when untreated, gonorrhea can make a person with HIV more infectious as gonorrhea increases the number of HIV-infected cells in the genital area and in the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.
* If you have an STI, it is important to use a condom when having sex to prevent it spreading further. Most STIs are very easy and cheap to treat. This can be done at a clinic or by your doctor, free of charge or for a small fee.
Drug and alcohol abuse
* HIV can be spread because you make bad judgment calls when you are under the influence of drugs. For example, when you are high you do not think clearly and have sex without a condom.
* Alcohol doesn't cause HIV infection. Alcohol reduces your ability to think clearly and you become more likely to make impulsive decisions and have unprotected sex.
* If you are living with HIV, drug and alcohol abuse weakens the immune system. If you are HIV negative, a person with a poor immune system is more likely to become infected with HIV if he/she has unprotected sex.


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