Take a look at our HIV and AIDS pages, which provide a basic introduction to HIV and AIDS.

For more information have a look at our pages on

• How HIV can and cannot be transmitted
• How HIV transmission can be prevented
• Why there is no cure for HIV/AIDS
• How HIV is treated

Or, if you are interested in the impact AIDS has had globally have a look at our pages on

• An introduction to the AIDS epidemic
  
• The origin of AIDS
• The history of AIDS

Our page on the main routes of HIV transmission will tell you if you are at risk of infection. If you are still unsure then read our frequently asked questions page.

For any questions about testing have a look at our HIV testing FAQs page. For more information you might also like to read our main HIV testing page, which explains in detail the different types of tests available.

The best places for you to begin are probably our learning you are positive page and our introduction to treatment pages. We also have pages on dealing with drug side effects, HIV and nutrition and advice for HIV positive pregnant women.

Looking at how you can and cannot be infected with HIV will show you what you need to do to avoid infection.

AVERT.org has many pages on HIV prevention such as

• Preventing HIV and STDs through using condoms
• Preventing mother to child transmission of HIV
• Preventing HIV through needle exchange and harm reduction
• Preventing HIV in the workplace
• Prevention of HIV for sex workers

If you are worried you may have an STD then read the pages in our STD section for more information.

As with HIV it is possible to prevent most STDs by having sex with a condom. To find out more about different STDs and how to prevent them have a look at the pages in our STD section.

Through using contraception such as;

• The birth control pill
• Condoms
• The female condom

Read our frequently asked questions about pregnancy page if you think you may be pregnant.

It is possible for an HIV positive pregnant mother to pass on the virus to her child, but this can be prevented. For more information have a look at our HIV and pregnancy page and our Preventing Mother to Child transmission page.

We also have pages on HIV and breastfeeding and why some PMTCT programmes are failing to reach women in need.

Reading our ‘am I gay?’ or ‘defining gay and lesbian’ pages might help you answer that.

Our gay, bi & lesbian resources page lists organisations in the UK, US and worldwide which may help.

Read our How do you have sex? page for all the information you may need.

Having safer sex is very important if you want to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection. Read our general questions about sex page to find out about safer sex.

Condoms are easy to use but you still need to be shown how to use them correctly. Have a look at our using condoms page for more information.

Our teens section talks about all of these issues as well as

• Drink and drugs
• What age you can legally have sex
• Condoms
• Being gay or unsure
• How HIV affects teens

To help you find someone to talk to you can use a search engine such as ‘Google’ or ‘Yahoo’ to look for help. Type the relevant words into the search bar. For example typing “gay” or “depression” along with “support” or “helplines” may help. It could also help to put where you live in the world.

There are normally national organisations for people affected by AIDS or who are gay and lesbian who you can try contacting.

A local information centre such as a library may have details of support groups and helplines in your area.

Helplines are normally free and confidential but it may be worth checking.

If you haven’t got access to the Internet you could speak to someone you trust such as a doctor or, if you are still in school, a teacher.

A simple web search with your home town and the kind of medical help you need such as “STD testing”, “HIV treatment” or “pregnancy” may refer you to local services.

Alternatively you can try your government department of health who may be able to give you up to date information on health services in your area or contact details for organisations that are able to help you.

Many countries have a national AIDS organisation. They will usually have a website and you can find this through an Internet search engine.

Alternatively a local library, chemists or pharmacy could have information on the nearest source of medical help.

Medical help can also come in the form of someone you know such as a school nurse or a local medical health worker.

Whether it is for yourself or for someone else please do try and talk to someone about the experience. It doesn’t matter if it was recently or in the past, you need to talk to a real person for information and advice.

To help you find someone to talk to it is best to use a search engine such as ‘Google’ or ‘Yahoo’ and type the relevant words into the search bar. Typing “rape” or “abuse” along with “support” or “help lines” and the place in which you live should produce results.

Helplines are normally always free and confidential.

If you haven’t got access to the internet then you should speak to the police or someone you trust such as a doctor or, if you are still in school, a teacher or adult you trust.

If you are experiencing these feelings it is important that you speak to someone straight away.

To help you find someone to talk to it is best to use a search engine such as ‘Google’ or ‘Yahoo’. Type the relevant words into the search bar, for example “depression” or “suicide” along with “support” or “help lines”, you may want to put where you live also.

Helplines are normally always free and confidential.

If you haven’t got access to the Internet then you should speak to someone you trust such as a doctor or, if you are still in school, a teacher.