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Some people experience symptoms almost immediately and others do not experience symptoms for many years. Timely detection of HIV allows for better treatment outcomes and reduces the risk of transmission. People living with HIV who receive effective treatment can live long, healthy lives while protecting their partner.
Some people experience symptoms almost immediately and others do not experience symptoms for many years. Timely detection of HIV allows for better treatment outcomes and reduces the risk of transmission. People living with HIV who receive effective treatment can live long, healthy lives while protecting their partner.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system and weakens the body’s ability to fight everyday infections and disease. Unlike other viral infections, HIV never leaves the body and progresses over time. While there is currently no cure, our evolving understanding of HIV, partnered with advances in medical treatment and testing, can empower people living with HIV to live long, healthy lives.
Knowing your HIV status allows you to make life-affirming decisions for yourself and your loved ones. The only way to know your status is through an HIV test. If you believe you have been exposed to HIV, seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Most people experience flu-like symptoms within 2-4 weeks after transmission. These symptoms may last for a few days or even several weeks. However, some people experience no symptoms at all. This is why timely and regular testing is so important.
HIV is preventable and there are several steps you can take to minimize risk and stop the spread of the virus:
Identifying HIV early not only facilitates fast and appropriate follow-up treatment – it helps to prevent further transmission of the disease.
You can get tested for HIV in several places, including your local healthcare provider or sexual health clinic and even from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Antibodies are produced by your immune system when you’re exposed to viruses like HIV. An antibody test looks for antibodies to HIV in your blood or saliva. Most rapid tests and HIV self-tests are antibody tests.
Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate even before antibodies develop. An antigen/antibody test looks for these in your blood are most often done in a clinical lab setting.
You can get tested for HIV in several places, including your local healthcare provider or sexual health clinic and even from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Antibodies are produced by your immune system when you’re exposed to viruses like HIV. An antibody test looks for antibodies to HIV in your blood or saliva. Most rapid tests and HIV self-tests are antibody tests.
Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate even before antibodies develop. An antigen/antibody test looks for these in your blood are most often done in a clinical lab setting.
HIV is found in certain bodily fluids of people living with HIV including blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids, and breastmilk. HIV can be transmitted by:
The “window period” refers to the time between exposure and when a test can detect the HIV virus in your body and is dependent on which type of test is used:
A few weeks after exposure you may develop flu-like symptoms including:
Symptoms may last up to a month or not occur at all. If you believe you’ve been exposed – get tested.
After receiving an HIV positive test result, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss next steps and treatment options. They may start you on an HIV treatment called antiretroviral therapy (ART) which has proven benefit when people start treatment soon after diagnosis.3
Without proper treatment, HIV typically progresses through three stages.3 However, advances in HIV treatment can slow and even prevent further progression. Take control of your health and know your status.
Often accompanied by flu-like symptoms, people at this stage have a large amount of the HIV virus in their blood and are very contagious.
Sometimes called asymptomatic HIV infection, people at this stage may not have any symptoms but can still transmit HIV. When taking treatment as prescribed, these people may never move into Stage 3.
The most severe stage of HIV, people in Stage 3 have badly damage immune systems and may easily transmit HIV to others. The chances of contracting other opportunistic infections or serious illness is much higher.
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