Why are people thinking positively about starting
HIV treatment early?
LIVING LONGER AND
HEALTHIER LIVES
Many people living with HIV who start and stay on HIV treatment can now live longer lives compared to those who started treatment in earlier decades.* Also, research shows that people who start HIV treatment early often live healthier lives than those who wait to start.†
THE FIRST GOAL IS TO GET TO AND STAY UNDETECTABLE
The amount of HIV in your blood is called your viral load, and you want this number to be as low as possible. HIV treatments can help lower the virus in the blood so much that it can’t be detected by a lab test. Reaching this level is commonly referred to as undetectable.
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.
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.
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.
*Based on data (The Lancet HIV, 2017) showing improvement in life expectancy between 1996 and 2013 among individuals starting antiretroviral therapy.
†U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Website. https://www.HIV.gov.
‡Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. https://www.CDC.gov.
WHICH HIV
TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Taking HIV treatment doesn’t have to mean rearranging your life or giving up your hopes and dreams. Today, there are many different treatment options designed with the whole person in mind, including single daily pills containing fewer medicines and long-acting treatments.
The sooner you talk to your doctor, the sooner you can start on a treatment that can help you manage HIV while living your life. Read more about today’s HIV treatment options here.
Starting Treatment
With Confidence
HIV TREATMENT
TERMS
When it comes to treating HIV, knowing some basic terms—like the ones below—can be helpful.
Tap to learn.
T-CELL COUNT (CD4+)
T-CELL COUNT (CD4+)
The number of CD4+ T-cells in your blood. HIV enters your body and attacks your CD4+ T-cells, which are white blood cells that help fight off infection. The higher the T-cell count, the better equipped your immune system is to fight off infections.
VIRAL LOAD
VIRAL LOAD
The amount of HIV in your blood is called your viral load, and you want this number to be as low as possible. The first goal of HIV treatment is to reach undetectable (when the amount of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test).
ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)
ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)
Medicines used to treat HIV are called antiretrovirals. There are many different types of antiretrovirals that fight HIV in the body in different ways. Using multiple HIV medicines together is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
ADHERENCE
ADHERENCE
Taking your medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor. When you take your HIV treatment as prescribed by your doctor, you're more likely to reach and keep an undetectable viral load.
UNDETECTABLE
UNDETECTABLE
When there is very little HIV in your blood—an amount too low to be detected by a lab test. “Undetectable” doesn't mean cured. To keep your viral load from going back up, you need to keep taking your HIV treatment and going to your doctor regularly.
U = U
UNDETECTABLE =
UNTRANSMITTABLE
According to the DHHS,* people living with HIV who take HIV treatment as prescribed and reach and stay undetectable for at least 6 months prevent transmitting HIV through sex. This is sometimes called undetectable = untransmittable.† Viral load testing should be performed on a regular basis to confirm HIV remains at an undetectable level.
Regardless of status, condoms can help you lead a healthy sexual life. Talk to your doctor about further risks of sexual HIV transmission.
*DHHS = Department of Health and Human Services.
†https://www.hiv.gov/tasp.
SINGLE-TABLET REGIMEN (STR)
SINGLE-TABLET REGIMEN (STR)
A single daily pill that combines a complete antiretroviral regimen of 2, 3, or 4 HIV medicines, instead of taking individual pills for each.
LONG-ACTING TREATMENT
LONG-ACTING TREATMENT
Long-acting treatment is administered by your healthcare provider and slowly releases over time to maintain enough medicine in your body between appointments.
remember
Undetectable doesn’t mean cured. You still need to take your HIV treatment as prescribed by your doctor, go for your regular visits with your healthcare provider, follow safe sex practices, and avoid needle sharing.
Find HIV resources in your area.
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