According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Acquired means that the disease is not hereditary, Immunodefeficiency means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system, and Syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease. AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. That being said, AIDS is a danger to everyone.
When AIDS first was discovered in the 80's, people thought that it was only passed through homosexuals and drug addicts that use injections. As we know now, that is just not true. Pregnant mothers could pass the disease to their unborn child and people who are not in a monogamous heterosexual relationship can pass it on to their partner.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as of the end of 2003, an estimated 37.8 million people worldwide - 35.7 million adults and 2.1 million children younger than 15 years - were living with HIV/AIDS. In 2003 alone, HIV/AIDS - associated illnesses caused the deaths of approximately 2.9 million people worldwide, including an estimated 490,000 children younger than 15 years.
According to CDC, an estimate of 850,000 to 950,000 U.S. residents are living with HIV infection, one-quarter of who are unaware of their infection. Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year in the United States, about 70 percent among men and 30 percent among women. As of the end of 2002, an estimated 384,906 people in the United States were living with AIDS.
Out of these people living with HIV, my mother is one of them. She was diagnosed with the disease 14 years ago and will probably live for another 14 years, thanks to the new medicines that are out. When I found out that she was positive, I could not believe it. I wanted to know, how this could happen to her. She had been in a monogamous relationship. Well, at least I thought she was. This was until my mother told me that her longtime boyfriend had been unfaithful and passed the disease on to her.
I was so hurt and upset. They were together so long, they were practically married. How could a husband cheat on his wife like that? Since I was only 12 years old at the time, the situation just didn't make since to me. But as I got older, I began to understand.
It does not matter if you're married or in a longtime relationship. You should still take precautions with your partner. Now, I hear people say "I'm not wearing a condom, that's my wife/husband or that's my girl/man". That is all good, but why you are being faithful, your partner is probably doing his/her thing (cheating).
People should just be careful. If you're married or in a longtime relationship, you should still use a condom. If you or your partner wants kids, then the both of you should get tested together. That way, you know that at least for that moment, you will be okay. After the baby is conceived, you should continue to protect yourself, because you just do not know.