Information about HIV

What is HIV?

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks your immune system. The immune system helps keep you healthy and fights off things like the cold or flu.

HIV is not AIDS, but if left undiagnosed and untreated, HIV can turn into AIDS.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and occurs when your immune system is badly damaged and you get very sick.

Can HIV be treated?

HIV is treated with medication. The medication stops the HIV from attacking the immune system and it keeps you healthy.

Find out more about HIV treatments here.

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV is most commonly transmitted from one person to another during sex without a condom. During condomless sex, HIV is transmitted from one person to the other through fluid, such as semen (cum), anal fluid or vaginal fluid.

HIV can also be transmitted by blood when sharing equipment used to inject drugs.

HIV can also be transmitted from mother to a child during pregnancy, at birth or by breastfeeding.

How is HIV prevented?

There are more ways than ever before to prevent HIV, these include:

Condoms, which stop fluids getting into your body: https://what-works.org/condoms/.
Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is a pill that you take before sex which prevents HIV from getting into your body: https://what-works.org/prep/.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which is a pill that you take after sex to help stop HIV getting into your body. PEP needs to be accessed quickly after being exposed to HIV to work: https://what-works.org/pep/.
Undetectable Viral Load, which is when people living with HIV take medication that reduces the amount of HIV in their body so that it cannot be transmitted during sex, even if condoms are not used: https://what-works.org/uvl/.

For information about living with HIV head here or to watch people living with HIV talk about their experiences head to HIV Still Matters.