All About HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that wekens the body’s immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Most people have flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after infection. Symptoms may last for a few days or several weeks. Having these symptoms alone doesn’t mean you have HIV. Other illnesses can cause similar symptoms. Some people have no symptoms at all.

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested.

There is currently no effective cure

Once people get HIV, they have it for life. But proper medical care can control the virus. People with HIV who get on and stay on effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART) involves taking medicine prescribed by a health care provider. When taken as prescribed, HIV medicine can make the amount of virus in your body (viral load) so low that a test can’t detect it (undetectable viral load). If you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV through sex. 

All people with HIV should take HIV treatment, no matter how long they’ve had HIV or how healthy they are

If you delay treatment, HIV will continue to harm your immune system and increase your chances of transmitting HIV to others, getting sick, and developing AIDS.

HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load). If your viral load goes down after starting HIV treatment, that means treatment is working. Continue taking your HIV treatment as prescribed.

If you miss your HIV treatment, even now and then, HIV can multiply rapidly in your body. This could weaken your immune system, and you could become sick.

HIV treatment prevents transmission to others. If you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV through sex.

This is also known as Undetectable = Untransmittable.

Having an undetectable viral load likely reduces the risk of HIV transmission through sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment (for example, cookers), but we don’t know by how much. Having an undetectable viral load also prevents transmission through pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Taking HIV treatment as prescribed helps prevent drug resistance

Drug resistance develops when people with HIV miss their pills or shots.

The virus can change (mutate) and may limit your options for successful HIV treatment.

Drug-resistant strains of HIV can be transmitted to others.

Talk to your health care provider if your HIV treatment makes you sick. They may prescribe additional medicines to help manage the side effects or may change your HIV treatment plan.

There are two types of HIV treatment: pills and shots

PILLS

Pills are recommended for people just starting HIV treatment. There are many FDA-approved single pill and combination medicines available.

SHOTS

HIV treatment shots are long-acting injections given once a month or once every other month, depending on your treatment plan. Shots may be right for you if you are an adult with HIV who has had an undetectable viral load (or has achieved viral suppression) for at least three months, has no history of treatment failure, and has no known allergy to the medicines in the shot. You’ll need to visit your provider regularly to receive your shots.

A health care team that is knowledgeable about HIV care will help you manage your care and treatment

Your primary HIV care provider should lead your health care team.
They will,
  • Determine which HIV medicine is best for you
  • Prescribe HIV medicine
  • Monitor your progress and help you manage your health
  • Refer you to other HIV providers who can address your needs
  • Your care team may include other providers who are experts in HIV care like nurses, mental health providers, pharmacists, nutritionists, and dentists. Social service providers like social workers, case managers, substance use specialists, and patient navigators may help you find support services.
  • You can also use the locator below to find a local health center or a Ryan White HIV/AIDS provider who can help you access medical care, medications, and essential support services.
  • Take your HIV medicine as prescribed, this will help keep your viral load low and your CD4 count high.

Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions about when or how to take your medicine, or if you are experiencing any side effects

Keep your medical appointments and know what to expect during a medical appointment. During your appointment, your health care provider may ask questions and conduct routine medical exams to see how HIV is affecting your body. They may take a blood sample to check your viral load, ask about your health history, look for other kinds of infections or health problems, or give you immunizations, discuss, prescribe, and monitor your HIV medicine, discuss ways to help you follow your HIV treatment plan, and help identify other support you may need.

Your health care provider will use blood tests to monitor your HIV

These tests help your health care provider make decisions about changes to your treatment: 

CD4 count

  • Your CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells you have in your blood.  
  • CD4 cells help your body fight infections.  
  • HIV lowers the number of CD4 cells in your blood.
  • This makes it difficult for your body to fight infections.  
  • Your health care provider will check your CD4 count every 3 to 6 months. 

Viral load test

  • This test looks at the amount of HIV in your blood. 
  • When your viral load is high, you have more HIV in your body. This may mean your immune system is having difficulty fighting the virus or that your HIV medicine isn’t working well. 
  • You should have a viral load test every 4 to 6 months, before you take a new HIV medicine, and around 2 to 8 weeks after starting or changing medicine. 

You can use any birth control method to prevent pregnancy

However, some HIV treatment may make hormone-based birth control less effective. Talk to your health care provider about which method of birth control is right for you.

HIV treatment is safe to take with gender-affirming or menopausal hormone therapy or testosterone replacement therapy

But some people experience side effects. Talk to your health care provider about taking HIV treatment and hormone therapy at the same time. They can monitor any side effects and help make sure your HIV treatment and hormone therapy stay on track.

Talk honestly with your provider if your treatment isn’t working or if you have trouble taking your medicine as prescribed. They may update your type of HIV treatment. A change is not unusual because the same HIV treatment does not affect everyone in the same way. 

Side effects like nausea or diarrhea can make it hard to continue HIV treatment. Your health care provider can suggest medicines or other support to help manage most side effects. 

Some people find that sticking to their HIV treatment plan becomes harder over time because of changes in their life

Make it a point to talk to your health care provider about challenges with sticking to your treatment plan. Talk to your health care provider if you miss doses of your HIV treatment. In most cases, you can take your pills as soon as you realize you missed a dose.

All information on this page was derived from the Center for Disease control, and is the most comprehensive, up-to date, and evidence-based information. HIV | CDC. (2021, October 4). Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/HIV/index.html