I had a disturbing talk with my friend yesterday. She thinks AIDS is ONLY found in the gay community. Her words were "If the guy's not gay, why would his parents be worried about him getting AIDS?" I said "It's not a gay disease. That's how it entered the US, but that's not what it is anymore. She says the only straight people who have AIDS are either born with it, or they were into both guys and girls. I really don't think she will listen to reason, but can someone prove her wrong???
2006-08-16 21:28:25 · 7 answers · asked by teeney1116 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Although it is very prevalent among gays because of the promiscuous life style, AIDS is certainly not just a "gay" disease. It is wide-spread amongst ("straight") intravenous drug abusers, mostly because of the sharing of needles. And, yes, there is an increased risk for bisexuals, also because of the multiple-partner sex.
2006-08-16 21:36:47 · answer #1 · answered by druid 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Statistics alone will prove that transmission of AIDS is every bit as possible among heterosexuals as it is homosexuals. However, proportionally a gay man, especially an african-american gay man experiences the greatest risk of attaining this horrible disease.
It is vital that your friend recognizes the risk of AIDS among all sexually active adults if she wants the knowledge to help fight back against the affliction this disease has caused already.
In response to Druid (above)...the promiscuity you state exists within the gay community exists for many reasons that you simplified as "the lifestyle"...consider that gays can't get married and therefore lose the opportunity of having that type of bond with their partner (at least from a legal standpoint). Also consider that closeted gay men ,which makes up a substantial percentage of the gay community unfortunately, often resort to risky sexual behavior to avoid the threat of being outed.
Ignorance concerning AIDS can turn as fatal as AIDS itself.
Any transmission of bodily fluids excluding saliva between two people during intercourse can put a person at risk of recieving AIDS assuming the other person(s) are affected by AIDS already.
2006-08-17 04:40:38 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, is it widely spread in the gay community and Yes, it is widely spread in the heterosexual community. Have you ever heard that when you sleep with someone you sleep with every person they have ever been with. People today live with the "It won't happen to me" attitude and thus STD and such continue to spread. There are many people that have the carefree love the one your with mindset- spreading it back and forth between both communities. Unfortunately before they began testing blood donations for the virus, people did contract it from blood transfusions. John Michael Glacier 's (Starsky & Hutch) wife died from aids from a blood transfusion. His child also has it. PROSTITUTES contribute to spreading it. People don't listen to what they need to do..and thus is spreads everywhere. I would have a heart to heart with your friend. Look up statistics on the net. Let her list to the song by Reba "I think his name was John". Tell her she is living in a fantasy world. All it takes is once. Many men that visit prostitutes have wives or girlfriends. They take things like this home. Drug users..share needles..spread disease. Any bodily fluid can transfer to you through eyes..cut..not saliva..but why do you think nurses, dr's, dentists..wear masks over their eyes now and gloves and such. Any person in the medical field is at high risk of being infected.
2006-08-17 11:25:53 · answer #3 · answered by RITA G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AIDS has probably been spread more by the gay community than by straight people, but it is very definitely spreadable among straight people.
Heterosexual sex can transmit the virus, most easily from male to female, but also from female to male. It can also be transmitted by blood transfusions, though this is rare due to screening of donated blood.
These misconceptions are dangerous, especially for women, who can get the disease very easily from sexual contact.
2006-08-17 04:37:39 · answer #4 · answered by Warren D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.aidsonline.com
this will probably help.
also, if you try a google search on the words "AIDS Heterosexual", you'll probably find something.
(I don't know how old you are- but knowledge is power, and if you're already discussing this topic, I don't think that what you find will be anything horribly new.).
2006-08-17 04:44:19 · answer #5 · answered by scantron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
As long as you are Human, AIDS can be transmitted via blood, sexual fluids.
it is as simple as that
Bye
2006-08-17 11:18:59 · answer #6 · answered by kida_w 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell your friend anybody can catch aids if they are not careful and it doesn't matter if u are gay or straight
2006-08-17 05:32:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋