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Live Positive Hero Image
Live Positive Hero Image

[+] LIVE
POSITIVE

There are a lot of reasons people are
thinking positively about HIV treatment.

LIVING A
POSITIVE LIFE
WITH HIV TODAY

Thanks to early diagnosis and treatment, people with HIV are now living nearly as long as those without HIV.

With telehealth appointments and a robust HIV community online, there are lots of places to find resources and build your support team.

WHAT IS HIV?

Some people still think of AIDS when they hear HIV. But HIV and AIDS are different.

FACT #1

HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This means the virus makes your immune system “deficient”—not strong enough to fight viruses or infections.

FACT #2

Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. People with untreated HIV can "acquire" a weakened immune system which makes them vulnerable to serious infections.

FACT #3

HIV doesn’t always lead to AIDS. Treatment can keep HIV under control and get you to undetectable.

TODAY, THE
SPREAD OF HIV
CAN BE PREVENTED

Most people who get HIV get it through anal or vaginal sex, or through sharing needles. But there are powerful tools that can help prevent HIV transmission.*

IF YOU'RE HIV-POSITIVE

  • Treatment as Prevention (TasP):
    One of the most highly effective options for preventing HIV transmission is to take HIV medicine.†
  • U=U stands for Undetectable‡ = Untransmittable:
    According to the Department of Health and Human Services, people living with HIV who reach and stay undetectable by taking their HIV medication as prescribed prevent transmitting HIV through sex. First, talk to your doctor about further risks of sexual HIV transmission.
    • How long does someone need to be on HIV treatment before the sexual transmission of HIV is prevented?
      Achieving an undetectable viral load can take time. Taking HIV treatment as prescribed and getting to and staying undetectable for at least 6 months prevents transmitting HIV through sex. Viral load testing should be performed on a regular basis to confirm HIV remains at an undetectable level.
    • Should I still practice safe sex if I am undetectable?
      Regardless of status, condoms can help you lead a healthy sexual life. Unlike HIV treatment, condoms can prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy.

IF YOU'RE HIV-NEGATIVE

  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP):
    In addition to safe sex practices, the use of PrEP may help reduce the chances of getting HIV through sex for people without HIV.
  • Get Tested:
    The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once. Talk to your healthcare provider about how often you should be tested.

CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. https://www.cdc.gov.

†HIV Treatment as Prevention Website. https://www.hiv.gov/tasp.

‡Undetectable means the amount of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Nearly 1.2 million adults were estimated to be living with HIV in the U.S. by the end of 2021.*

1 in 8 adults

An estimated
1 in 8 of these adults didn’t know they have the virus.

Group of people Icon

There were over 32,000 people with new HIV diagnoses in 2021.

[+]

Less than 40% of Americans have had an HIV test.

*Data for 2021 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing, care-related services, and case surveillance activities in state/local jurisdictions.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov.

TapClick through to see how HIV can affect your body.

Red Blood Cells Red Blood Cells Red Blood Cells Red Blood Cells Red Blood Cells HIV Cell HIV Cell HIV Cell HIV Cell CD4+ T-Cell CD4+ T-Cell CD4+ T-Cell CD4+ T-Cell

Your body has cells
called CD4+ T-cells

CD4+ T-cells are white blood cells that help keep your immune system strong so you can fight infections.

HIV ENTERS AND KILLS CD4+ T-CELLS

Without treatment, HIV continues to enter and kill more and more of these important cells. That means you have fewer CD4+ T-cells to help keep you healthy, and more HIV virus.

THE AMOUNT OF HIV VIRUS IN YOUR BLOOD IS CALLED VIRAL LOAD

You want your viral load to be as low as possible.

If your viral load is really low, it may be “undetectable”*

Being “undetectable” means you have very little HIV virus in your blood. But “undetectable” doesn't mean cured—you still need to keep taking your medicine, go for regular visits with your healthcare provider, follow safe sex practices, and avoid needle sharing.

*Undetectable means the amount of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test.

MOST PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR VIRAL LOAD TO BE UNDETECTABLE

This can be achieved with proper HIV treatment, working with a healthcare provider, and taking HIV medicines exactly as prescribed.

Know your numbers

Your CD4+ T-cell count and viral load can go up and down, so your healthcare provider needs to keep watching them by doing lab tests—usually once every 3 to 6 months during the first 2 years of starting medication. If your viral load becomes undetectable, and stays that way, your provider may start to measure these less often.

Source: US National Institutes of Health. https://hivinfo.nih.gov/home-page.

That’s why it’s so important to go to your regular appointments with your healthcare provider.

Red Blood Cells and CD4+ T-Cell Red Blood Cells and CD4+ T-Cell

Your body has cells called CD4+ T-cells

CD4+ T-cells are white blood cells that help keep your immune system strong so you can fight infections.

CD4+ T-Cell and HIV Cells CD4+ T-Cell and HIV Cells

HIV ENTERS AND KILLS CD4+ T-CELLS

Without treatment, HIV continues to enter and kill more and more of these important cells. That means you have fewer CD4+ T-cells to help keep you healthy, and more HIV virus.

CD4+ T-Cell, Red Blood Cells, and HIV Cells CD4+ T-Cell, Red Blood Cells, and HIV Cells

THE AMOUNT OF HIV VIRUS IN YOUR BLOOD IS CALLED VIRAL LOAD

You want your viral load to be as low as possible.

CD4+ T-Cell, Red Blood Cell, and HIV Cell CD4+ T-Cell, Red Blood Cell, and HIV Cell

If your viral load is really low, it may be “undetectable”*

Being “undetectable” means you have very little HIV virus in your blood. But “undetectable” doesn't mean cured—you still need to keep taking your medicine, go for regular visits with your healthcare provider, follow safe sex practices, and avoid needle sharing.

*Undetectable means the amount of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test.

CD4+ T-Cell and HIV Cell CD4+ T-Cell and HIV Cell

MOST PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR VIRAL LOAD TO BE UNDETECTABLE

This can be achieved with proper HIV treatment, working with a healthcare provider, and taking HIV medicines exactly as prescribed.

CD4+ T-Cells and HIV Cells CD4+ T-Cells and HIV Cells

Know your numbers

Your CD4+ T-cell count and viral load can go up and down, so your healthcare provider needs to keep watching them by doing lab tests—usually once every 3 to 6 months during the first 2 years of starting medication. If your viral load becomes undetectable, and stays that way, your provider may start to measure these less often.

Source: US National Institutes of Health. https://hivinfo.nih.gov/home-page.

That’s why it’s so important to go to your regular appointments with your healthcare provider.

 

SIGNS OF HIV

See your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms and think you may have been exposed to HIV. They may be a sign of an early stage of HIV infection that occur 2-4 weeks after infection. The symptoms don’t mean you have HIV. Not everyone will experience these symptoms, and getting tested is the only way to know for sure.

FEVER

CHILLS

RASH

NIGHT SWEATS

MUSCLE ACHES

SORE THROAT

FATIGUE

SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES

MOUTH ULCERS

COMMON
LAB TESTS

Along with getting tested for HIV, your healthcare provider may suggest a number of other common tests to help create a plan for your overall health.

COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT

Can reveal blood disorders such as anemia (low red blood cell count) or low platelet count and some infections

URINALYSIS

Can detect diabetes, urinary tract infections, and other conditions

LIPID PANEL

Measures cholesterol and other risks for heart disease

STI Screening

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can make your HIV get worse faster if they’re not treated

BLOOD CHEMISTRY PANEL

Helps see how well some organs, such as your liver or kidneys, are working

FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE

To diagnose or monitor diabetes

HEPATITIS A, B & C

Tests for hepatitis, which can affect your liver and complicate HIV treatment

Getting Tested 

Find HIV resources in your area.

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