180 chapter 8: Sexual health
Other ways to prevent HIV
• Treat sexually transmitted infections early. Having one STI can make it easier to
become infected with HIV or other STIs.
• Do not have an injection unless you are sure the instruments are sterilized first.
Health workers should NEVER reuse a needle or syringe without sterilizing it first.
• Never share a needle or syringe with someone else unless it is first sterilized with
bleach or boiled for 20 minutes.
• Make sure instruments for circumcision, ear piercing,
acupuncture, and traditional practices such as scarring, are
boiled for 20 minutes.
• Handle body fluids, like blood, vomit, stool, and urine
safely.
• All blood should be tested to ensure it is free from HIV and hepatitis. Even if it is
tested, avoid blood transfusions except in life-threatening emergencies.
Safer sex
Most of the time, HIV and other STIs are passed
from one person to another during sex. With
information about safer sex, respect, access to
condoms, and good communication with your
partner, you can protect yourself from STIs.
But it can be hard for any woman to
protect herself from sexual infections when
she is not expected or allowed to make
decisions about sex. You may be afraid or
ashamed to ask a man to use a condom,
or you may have to have sex when your
partner demands it. And you may not know if
your partner has sex with other people.
Every woman needs to know how she can make sex safer.
Come to
bed with
me.
I wonder where
he’s been?
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007