What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. ‘Immunodeficiency’ refers to the weakening of the immune system by the virus.

HIV has been passed on between humans for many decades but was only identified in the early 80s.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a collection of illnesses (‘syndrome’) caused by a virus people pick up (‘acquire’) that makes their immune system weak (‘immune deficiency’).

You can’t get an AIDS diagnosis unless you’re already HIV positive.

AIDS or late-stage HIV?

In the 1980s and early 90s, most people with HIV were eventually diagnosed with AIDS.

Now, thanks to modern antiretroviral treatment, very few people in the UK develop serious HIV-related illnesses. The term AIDS isn’t used much by UK doctors. Instead they talk about late-stage or advanced HIV.

Untreated HIV and transmission

If left untreated, infection with HIV progresses through a series of stages: from flu-like seroconversion illness, through infections associated with the symptomatic stage, leading to late-stage HIV or AIDS.

If someone with HIV has a detectable viral load, they can pass on HIV through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, anal mucus and breast milk.

HIV is not passed on by spitting, sneezing or coughing, nor by kissing or general social contact.

HIV can’t survive for very long once it's outside the human body.

Undetectable viral load

Studies have shown that a person who's on effective treatment who has an undetectable viral load can't pass on HIV.

PrEP - (pre-exposure prophylaxis)

How PrEP works

Taking PrEP before being exposed to HIV means there’s enough drug inside you to block HIV if it gets into your body.

The medication used for PrEP is a tablet which contains tenofovir and emtricitabine (drugs commonly used to treat HIV). It is sometimes called Truvada but most of the PrEP we use in the UK is generic PrEP.

In the US a second pill has been approved for use as PrEP – the branded drug Descovy or its generic equivalent.

Different PrEP delivery methods such as injectables and implants are being researched. As well as PrEP tablets, PrEP vaginal rings will be available soon.

Where to get PrEP

PrEP is now available free on the NHS in England from sexual health clinics.

Initially, PrEP was made available to 10,000 people in England as part of the IMPACT trial, which ended in July 2020.

In Scotland, PrEP is available through sexual health clinics. Visit the PrEPScot website to find out more information about how to access it.

In Wales, PrEP is available through sexual health clinics. For more information, see the Public Health Wales website.

All GUM clinics in Northern Ireland will be offering initial consultation and assessment appointments for a pilot trial, based at a centralised service in Belfast. This project will run for 2 years. There is currently no cap on numbers.

Get Tested

England - https://www.startswithme.org.uk

Wales - https://www.friskywales.org/chlamydia-and-gonorrhoea-home-testing-pilot.html

Scotland - https://www.hivtest.scot

Northern Ireland - https://www.sexualhealthni.info