aids semen

There are many factors that affect the HIV content in male semen, the most critical of which is the early stage of infection, which is during the window period. At this time, the number of HIV viruses in male semen is dozens of times higher than at other times, and the infectivity can increase by 200 times. The number and infectivity of HIV viruses in semen increase geometrically.

2. Under what circumstances is the HIV content in male semen the highest?

Some data show that during vaginal intercourse, the risk of HIV infection from male to female is 1/300-1/500; during anal intercourse, the risk of HIV infection from the passive party is dozens of times higher than that of heterosexual contact. In fact, many situations will increase the risk of HIV infection through sexual intercourse, such as other sexually transmitted infections, genital ulcers or damage, high levels of HIV in semen, etc. These factors will accelerate the sexual transmission of AIDS.

3. HIV structure

The HIV virus has a spherical structure and its genetic material is single-stranded RNA. There is a protective protein capsid on the outside of the RNA, and an envelope composed of lipids, proteins and sugars on the outside of the capsid. The structure of the HIV virus contains reverse transcriptase, which uses RNA as a template to synthesize DNA. When HIV infects a cell, the virus's envelope and capsid are shed. Under the action of reverse transcriptase, single-stranded RNA is used as a template to form an RNA-DNA hybrid molecule, and the DNA in the RNA-DNA hybrid molecule is used as a template to form a DNA strand, and finally this strand is used as a template to form a double-stranded DNA molecule. This DNA molecule is integrated into the host cell's DNA, and progeny viruses are produced from the integrated viral DNA.

Can washing male semen prevent AIDS?

Experts first extract sperm from infected semen, separate it from the virus, and then use an extremely sensitive AIDS test method to verify whether the sperm contains the virus before combining the sperm with the egg. The patient's spouse is currently 6 months pregnant, and two tests showed that the fetus was not infected with HIV.

This technology can reduce the risk of HIV infection, but it is expensive. You need to pay 1,300 pounds for the first course of treatment, and 900 pounds for each subsequent insemination. Despite this, eight couples have recently requested this "treatment."

Experts are also studying using the same technology to prevent male hepatitis B and C patients from passing the virus on to their next generation.