Know The Language:

Immune System (say: ih-MYOON SISS-tuhm) - the system that protects the body against infection and foreign substances. The immune system works to seek out, identify, and kill invaders such as bacteria or tumor cells.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (say: HYOO-muhn IH-myoo-noh-dih-FISH-uhn-see VEYE-ruhss), or HIV - a virus that damages the immune system. This makes it hard for your body to fight infections. People who are infected with HIV may not have any symptoms for more than 10 years, but they can give it to others through unprotected sex and sharing drug needles. Women who have HIV and become pregnant can pass the infection to their unborn baby. HIV infection leads to full-blown AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (say: uh-KWEYE-urd IH-myoo-noh-dih-FISH-uhn-see SIN-drohm) (AIDS) - a disease that hurts the immune system, so that it becomes easy to get dangerous infections and cancers. It is caused by HIV infection.


Look At The Facts:

In 2007, 39% of currently sexually active high school students did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse.

In 2006, an estimated 5,259 young people aged 13-24 in the 33 states reporting to CDC were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, representing about 14% of the persons diagnosed that year.

Each year, there are approximately 19 million new STD infections, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24.

Protect Yourself
The statistics you just read above are about our teen readers. G4G reaches out to girls between the ages of 13 and 21. Sad to say, that one of you holding this magazine may be a statistic.

Dismiss The Myths:  How the HIV Virus is REALLY Spread

Blood to blood contact.
If you become "blood brothers" with someone and your blood touches theirs, you are at a risk. Sharing needles or syringes that have been previously used (such as tattooing, body piercing, or drug using) also puts you at a risk.

Sexual contact.
Having unprotected sex certainly makes you a target for the disease. Don't be fooled either. You can get AIDS/HIV if you have anal, oral, or phallic sex.

Prenatal contact.
If you are born to a woman with AIDS, there is a very great chance that you have it. Mothers who have the disease that give birth, usually give it to their children.

What all three ways have in common is that they all include a bodily fluid of some kind. That is how the virus is carried. Infectious body fluids include:
• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal/Cervical Secretions
• Breast Milk

For more on HIV/AIDS visit www.cdc.gov.