DO:

• DO always use male condoms for vaginal sex, anal sex or oral sex from start to finish;
• DO wear a male condom before sexual contact;
• DO check if the condom packaging is intact and undamaged before use, and check the expiration date of the condom.
• DO store male condoms in a cool and dry place.
• DO use water-based lubricants (Such as: K-Y®) to reduce the chance of condom rupture.

DON\T :

• DON\T put male condoms in the wallet, as heat or friction may damage male condoms.
• DON\T use spermicides, so as not to irritate the vagina, which will increase the risk of HIV transmission during sexual intercourse.
• DON\T use oil-based lubricants (such as petroleum jelly, baby oil, etc.) to prevent the male condom from being ruptured.
• DON\T wear multiple male condoms at the same time; wearing two condoms at the same time will cause rupture due to friction.
• DON\T reuse male condoms.

Open the package carefully.	The thick, inner ring with closed end is used for placing in the vagina and holds condom in place. The thin, outer ring remains outside of body, covering vaginal opening.	Holding outside of condom at closed end, squeeze sides of inner ring together with your thumb and forefinger and insert into vagina.
Push inner ring as far up as it will go until it rests against cervix. The condom will expand naturally.	Be sure condom is not twisted. The thin, outer ring should remain outside vagina.	Guide partner\s penis into opening of female condom. Stop intercourse if you feel penis slip between condom and walls of vagina or if outer ring is pushed into vagina.
To remove, gently twist outer ring and pull female condom out of vagina.	Throw away female condom in trash after using it one time.

Source of Images:
for Disease Control and Prevention

DO:

• DO use a female condom from start to finish of every vaginal sex.
• DO wear a female condom before sexual contact.
• DO check if the condom packaging is intact and undamaged before use, and check the expiration date of the condom.
• DO store female condoms in a cool and dry place.
• DO use water-based lubricants (Such as: glycerin, K-Y®) to reduce the chance of the condom slipping off or breaking.

DON\T :

• DON\T use oil-based lubricants (such as petroleum jelly, baby oil, etc.) to prevent the female condoms from being damaged.
• DON\T use spermicides, so as not to irritate the vagina, which will increase the risk of HIV transmission during sexual intercourse.
• DON\T use a male condom with a female condom, as this can cause tearing and damage the condoms due to friction.
• DON\T reuse female condoms.

• Studies have shown that male and female condoms provide the same protection against HIV.

No.

• Women who use spermicide ointment or gel for contraception should also use condoms to prevent HIV infection. Compared with using spermicide alone, the simultaneous use of condoms provides better contraceptive effects.
• Spermicide contains nonoxynol-9 (N-9). Although N-9 can kill HIV in the test tube, a study shows that N-9 placed in the vagina may irritate the vagina and increase the risk of HIV transmission during vaginal intercourse. N-9 can also irritate the lining of the rectum, so it should not be used for anal sex.
• Some condoms contain N-9 lubricant. Compared with unprotected sex without using condoms, these condoms have better protection against HIV, but a condom without N-9 lubricant is the best choice for HIV prevention.

• Although the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is very low, there have been cases of HIV infection through oral sex.
• Using latex dental dams can reduce the risk of HIV infection during oral sex. For oral sex on men, it is recommended to use a condom without lubricant. For oral sex for women, it is recommended to use dental dams or plastic wrap, or a cut condom without lubricant to cover the vagina.

Dental dams are latex or polyurethane sheets used between the mouth and vagina or anus during oral sex. Generally, the latex film used in dental treatment can be used for this purpose.
DO:

• DO use a dental dam from start to finish of every oral sex.
• DO wear a dental dam before sexual contact;
• DO check if the dental dam packaging is intact and undamaged before use, and check the expiration date of the condom.
• DO store dental dams in a cool and dry place.
• DO use water-based lubricants (Such as: glycerin, K-Y®) to prevent breakage.

DON’T :

• DON\T stretch a dental dam, as this can cause it to tear.
• DON\T use spermicide, which can cause irritation.
• DON\T use oil-based lubricants (such as petroleum jelly, baby oil, etc.) because they will cause the dental dam to break.
• DON\T reuse dental dams.

Open the package carefully.	Place dental dam flat to cover vaginal opening or anus.	Throw away used dental dam in trash.

Source of Images:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• No, they cannot. Only condoms can reduce the risk of pregnancy and HIV infection at the same time. Other contraceptive methods, such as contraceptive pills, patches and intrauterine rings, cannot prevent HIV infection.
• If other methods than condoms are used for contraception, male or female condoms should also be used during sex to prevent HIV infection.

No, because:

• The semen enters the cervix almost immediately after ejaculation.
• Washing will stimulate the vaginal tissues, by disturbing the natural balance of bacteria and enzymes in the vaginal tissues, making it more susceptible to STDs and HIV, or complicating existing infections.

Yes, because:

• Even if you are HIV positive, you still need to prevent STDs, or you may need to prevent pregnancy.
• Furthermore, using condoms can reduce the chance of exposure to other types of HIV, thereby avoiding HIV reinfection or superinfection, which may worsen the situations and even develop HIV drug resistance.

The following preparations must be made first:

• Continual antiretroviral treatment (ART) for the infected partner to keep the virus under control.
• Regular follow-up visits to monitor the amount of virus and checking other bodily conditions; if other STDs are found in the body, they must be treated first.
• Discussing with the doctor and your partner about the method of conception. Artificial insemination is recommended, and the conception through unprotected sex is not recommended.
• Making full consideration of the babies’ infection rate, and whether the situations of family, economy, work, etc. are conducive to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and baby-caring.

1. Taking ART can reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission from 1/4 to 1/12. In order to get the maximum preventive effect from ART:
   • Infected pregnant women should seek medical attention and start taking ART as early as possible, and should take ART daily as prescribed.
   • They should also take ART during childbirth. Therefore, they should discuss with their doctors about going to the hospital early to prepare for delivery.
   • Regardless of whether or not the infected mother has taken ART during pregnancy, the baby should start preventive medication immediately after birth, with continuous medical follow-up, and regular rechecks for HIV.
2. Since HIV can also be transmitted to babies through the birth canal, it is recommended to undergo caesarean sections for HIV-infected mothers, which can reduce the chance of the virus transmitting by half.
3. Since HIV can also be transmitted to babies through breast milk, breastfeeding by the infected mother is not recommended.

1. Stay away from drugs or adopt methadone maintenance treatment.
2. Do not use needles to take drugs, if you fail to completely give up drug use.
3. Even if you fail to quit injection drug use, do not share or reuse needles, syringes or other injection tools with others (for example: spoons, bottle caps, cotton); using new needles and equipment can reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
4. If you fail to bring your own needles or use disposable needles, you should thoroughly disinfect the needles before using them; this can reduce the risk of HIV transmission, but cannot completely avoid infection.

1. Wash off the blood in the syringe with clean water.
2. Fill the syringe with bleach (without dilution), shake it back and forth for several times, and let the bleach clean the inside and outside of the syringe.
3. Drain off the bleach and repeat once.
4. Fill the syringe with clean water, shake it back and forth for several times, and let the clean water clean the inside and outside of the syringe.
5. Drain off the clean water and repeat once.

Yes, because:

• Drinking alcohol or using non-injectable drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy can make people confused and prone to unprotected sex or the use of contaminated needles.
• Non-injectable drugs such as cocaine tend to increase sexual desire and reduce sexual inhibition, which also increases the chance of unsafe sex.
• Drug users may also engage in sex transactions involving money or drugs, which further increases their risk of HIV infection.

• In order to prevent the spread of HIV, medical staff should follow strict safety guidelines and adopt standard preventive measures, including wearing gloves when collecting blood samples or giving injections for patients, and washing hands frequently before and after the operations, etc.
• Nevertheless, accidental needle stick injuries, direct contact with blood or other body fluids may also happen. In case you accidentally come into contact with blood or body fluids in the work environment, you should:
  1. immediately wash with soap and plenty of water, properly disinfect, and bandage the wound; If the mucous membranes such as the eyes are contaminated with blood or body fluids, they should be rinsed with water or normal saline immediately.
  2. go to the emergency department for treatment as soon as possible. The emergency department doctor will evaluate the HBV, HCV, and HIV infection status of the source and the exposed persons, and consider whether to prescribe preventive drugs ("post-exposure prevention") to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be taken as early as possible. PEP must be started within 72 hours after the exposure to HIV to ensure efficacy. The course of treatment lasts for 4 weeks.

• Based on the results of the risk assessment, doctors at the Conde de Sao Januario General Hospital can provide PEP to people at risk of HIV infection (regardless of the source of exposure).
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be taken as early as possible. PEP must be started within 72 hours after the exposure to HIV to ensure efficacy. The course of treatment lasts for 4 weeks.
• The treatment fees of local residents are exempted according to law (Decree-Law No.24/86/M), and non-local residents can apply to the Director of the Health Bureau for the exemption from the fees (According to Law No.2/2004 "Law on the prevention, control and treatment of infectious diseases").
• You can take an HIV test if you are worried about the infection, but please be aware that there may be a "false negative" result during the "window period". Generally, a negative result is meaningful only if the test is given 3 months after the last risky behaviour. If your test result is negative during the "window period", you are advised to undergo the test again after the "window period". Therefore, do take protective measures in every sexual intercourse.