HIV
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
It’s a virus that harms your immune system. Your immune system helps your body fight infections.
If HIV isn’t treated, it can lead to AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
The good news? With early diagnosis and effective treatment, most people with HIV live long, healthy lives and never develop AIDS. That’s why it’s important to know your status and get tested.
- HIV is most often passed on through bodily fluids during vaginal or anal sex without a condom.
- You cannot get HIV from saliva, sweat, or urine, so kissing is safe
HIV can only be passed on through sexual activity with someone who has untreated HIV. It can also be passed on through sharing needles.
HIV is preventable and treatable but there is currently no cure. Early diagnosis is key – the sooner you know, the sooner you can start treatment and prevent future health problems.
Most people will experience a short flu-like illness around 2 to 6 weeks after acquiring HIV.
Some people will experience no signs or symptoms of HIV.
This can include:
- a sore throat
- a high temperature
- swollen glands
- muscle aches and tiredness
- a skin rash
However, these symptoms can also be caused by lots of common conditions.
If HIV is not treated, it damages your immune system and raises your risk of serious illnesses, such as severe infections and some cancers. This is known as advanced HIV, late-stage HIV or AIDS.
If your partner is living with HIV and taking treatment effectively, they cannot pass it on.
Condoms act as a physical barrier to stop bodily fluids (like semen) transferring from one person to another. When worn before and during any sexual contact, they give protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
They are widely available and are free from sexual health clinics and to under 25s via the Doink condom scheme.
PrEP is not a vaccine and only provides protection when taken as prescribed.
It’s safe to use alongside all forms of contraception and hormone therapy for trans people.
PrEP is available from:
PEP – also known as HIV post-exposure prophylaxis – is an emergency medicine you take after possible HIV exposure e.g.
- if you have condom-less (unprotected) vaginal or anal sex with someone from an area where HIV is more common
- if a sexual partner is living with HIV and is not taking effective treatment
To be effective, it needs to be taken as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours (3 days) after exposure.
If you think you require PEP, please contact your nearest sexual health clinic or A&E department (out of hours) as soon as possible.
PEP is for emergencies and should not be used as a substitute for safe sex or PrEP.
You can find your nearest sexual health clinic using our find a service tool.
Thanks to progress in HIV treatment, most people with HIV will not develop advanced-HIV and can live long, healthy lives.
When someone takes HIV treatment and the virus becomes undetectable, they cannot pass HIV on to others. This is called U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
Early diagnosis is key – the sooner you know, the sooner you can start treatment and prevent future health problems.
Regular testing is the only way to know your status.
For accurate testing, it is best to test six weeks after possible exposure to the virus.
You can access STI testing from:
- sexual health clinics
- some GPs
- pharmacies
- online at-home testing kits
- via your Personal Health Record (PHR)
There is currently no cure for HIV, but there are many easy and effective treatments.
Treatment is usually with anti-viral medications and you will be offered follow-up support.
Treatment is usually a single tablet taken once a day and is called anti-retroviral therapy. You will be supported by an experienced team of clinicians and have regular follow-ups.
With the correct treatment, most people with HIV do not develop AIDS and live long, healthy lives.
If you test positive it is very important that you tell you sexual partners so they can get tested and treated too.
