HIV

HIV is treated with antiretroviral medicines. These work by stopping the virus from multiplying in the body, which lets the immune system repair itself and prevents further damage.

The medicines come as tablets and need to be taken every day.

Most people with HIV take a combination of medicines.

The goal of treatment is to bring the viral load down to an undetectable level. This means the amount of HIV in the body is so low that a test cannot pick it up.

People on HIV treatment whose virus level is undetectable cannot pass HIV on to anyone else. There is still no cure for HIV, but people living with HIV who stay on treatment can expect a normal lifespan and good health.

Without treatment, a person with HIV will eventually become unwell. HIV can be fatal if it is not detected and treated in time to let the immune system repair itself. This is why it is so important to get tested if you think you may have been exposed.

How HIV spreads

HIV can be passed on through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, meaning sex without a condom or without taking HIV PrEP. It may also be possible to pass HIV on through unprotected oral sex, though the risk here is very low.

Other ways HIV can be passed on include:

sharing sex toys that have not been washed or covered with a fresh condom each time they are used

sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment

from a mother to her baby before or during birth, if the mother is not taking HIV medication

from a mother to her baby through breastfeeding, if the mother is not taking HIV medication

blood transfusion outside Bangladesh

Who faces the highest risk?

People at higher risk of HIV infection include those who are not taking HIV PrEP and who fall into one of these groups:

men who have had unprotected anal sex with other men

women who have had unprotected sex with men who have sex with men

people who have had unprotected sex with someone who has lived in or travelled to a country where HIV is common

people who inject drugs

people who have had unprotected sex with someone who injects drugs

people who have had another sexually transmitted infection

How to prevent HIV

Safer sex

The best way to reduce your risk of STIs is to practice safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal, anal and oral sex. If you’re having anal sex it’s important to also use water-based or silicon-based lubricant.

HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Taking HIV PrEP before you’re exposed to HIV provides protection to stop the HIV virus before you become HIV positive.

HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

If you think you may have recently been exposed to HIV and you haven’t taken HIV PrEP medication or used a condom, you should take PEP medication.

PEP is a form of emergency HIV medication taken by someone who does not have HIV but who has or may have been very recently exposed to HIV.

PEP should be taken as soon as possible, but it can be taken up to 72 hours after exposure. The earlier it is taken the more effective it is.

PEP is available from sexual health services or out of hours from A&E.

If you inject drugs

If you inject drugs, you should never share needles or other injecting equipment (including syringes, spoons and swabs).

You can get free clean needles and other injecting equipment from your local injecting equipment providers, which are sometimes also called needle exchanges.

Other STIs

If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV you should get tested for all STIs and blood borne viruses including:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhoea
• syphilis
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C

Don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.