Yellowstone Aids Project

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United Way - Community Partner

Montana Nonprofit Association

Angelwith

Billings, Montana
2906 1st Avenue
N. Suite 200, 59101
406-245-2029
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Office Hours
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Prevention

Transmission Information

HIV can be transmitted:

• through semen, blood, or vaginal fluids passing between partners through the thin mucous membranes of the penis, vagina, rectum, or mouth.
• usually during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
• by sharing needles for injecting drugs, vitamins, and steroids, or for tattoos and piercing.
• by blood passed from mother to fetus in the womb or to a baby at birth.
• to a baby through breast milk.
• by blood coming in direct contact with the blood or mucous membrane of another person.

Prevention Information

How can I protect myself?

• Abstinence is the best way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.
• Monogamy, or having sex only with a lifetime partner who does not have HIV and who only has sex with you.
• Practicing safer sex by not allowing a sex partners semen, blood, menstrual blood, or vaginal secretions enter your body.
• Don't inject drugs and if you do, don't share needles or works.
• If you share needles or works, clean them at least 3 times with water, 3 times with bleach, and 3 more times with water before and after each use.
• Women with HIV who test positive can take medication to reduce the risk of passing HIV to the fetus.
• To prevent transmitting HIV to others, consider taking an HIV test.

Testing Information

• The Yellowstone AIDS Project offers free and anonymous HIV testing Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 4:30. Testing is available by appointment or on a walk-in basis.
• We test for HIV using the OraSure oral fluid test, which collects cells from the inside of your mouth for testing.
• It takes three months after you receive HIV before the test can give accurate results.
•  RiverStone Health conducts anonymous HIV testing Wednesday (11:00 - 6:30) and Friday (8:30 - 12:00) using a blood sample or the oral fluid test. If you are unable to test during those times, please call 406.247.3357 to set up an appointment. RiverStone Health also tests for the Hepatitis C infection.

HIV/AIDS FACTS

• HIV/AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-olds in the United States.
• Among adolescents with AIDS, older teens, males, and racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected.
• Between 1987 and 1994, the number of adolescent female AIDS cases has almost tripled.
• The incubation period between HIV infection and AIDS diagnosis is many years.
• Many people who are diagnosed with AIDS in their 20s actually became infected with HIV as teenagers.
• Survey results show that among teenagers, ages 14-19, condom use actually declines with age.
• Less than half of teenagers who engage in sexual intercourse report consistent use of condoms.
• Nationwide, one in sixty-two high school students reported having injected an illegal drug.
• In the United States, girls make up 58% of new AIDS cases among teens in the U.S.
• Every minute, six young people between the ages of 10 - 25 are infected with HIV. More than 70% of these cases are in Africa.
• Worldwide, over 50 percent of all new HIV infections are in people 15 to 24 years old. However, young people make up only about 30 percent of the world's population.
• There are 1.7 billion 10- to 24-year-olds throughout the world, representing the largest group ever to enter adulthood.
• AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death globally.