Living with HIV
There are a variety of medications that allow people living with HIV to live healthy, active lives. If you’re living with HIV, learn how to navigate care and get the support you need.
I just discovered I’m HIV-positive. What do I do now?
If you just learned you’re HIV-positive, you may be feeling a range of emotions. Whatever you’re feeling, the first step is to talk to your health care provider about treatment options. Starting treatment as soon as possible can slow or even stop the virus from damaging your immune system, and it gives you the best chance of being healthy for years to come. If you’re not yet receiving care, be sure to find a health care provider who has experience treating HIV and can develop a plan that’s right for you.
Need help finding a health care provider? Use the sexual health services locator to find one near you.
It’s also important to tell your partners about your HIV status. If you’ve tested positive for HIV, disclosing your status to a partner can be difficult. But talking about your HIV status and your partner’s status allows you both to take steps to stay healthy.
Learn how to inform partners they’ve been exposed to HIV and find tips for discussing sexual health with your partners.
How can I get help paying for HIV treatment?
HIV medications are covered by health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, the HIV Drug Assistance (HDAP) program can help.
What tests will I need?
If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV, your health care provider will perform testing to monitor infection, evaluate your overall health, and to determine which treatment is right for you. These tests will include:
- CD4 T-cell count: CD4 T-cells help protect the body from infection. These are the cells that are targeted and destroyed by HIV. The CD4 T-cell count measures the volume of CD4 T-cells in your blood and indicates the strength of your immune system.
- Viral load (HIV RNA): This test measures the amount of HIV virus in your blood
- Drug resistance: Some strains of HIV are resistant to some medications. This test helps your health care provider select the right medications for you.
- Your health care provider may also recommend other tests to check for other infections, or to evaluate liver or kidney function
- Your health care provider will also do periodic testing to help manage your health, and to monitor your viral load
How can I play an active role in my care?
You’ll want to take an active role in your care to make sure your treatment is as effective as possible and that your health care provider(s) can recommend what’s best for you. Here are some ways to do that:
- Take your medication. Your health care provider will most likely prescribe one pill (that combines two or more medicines) which you must take every day to treat HIV.
- Keep all of your scheduled medical appointments and lab visits. Use a calendar or set reminders on your phone.
- Be honest with your health care provider about how you’re feeling. Talk about any changes in your health since your last visit.
- Make lists of your questions. Before every appointment, make a list of questions and concerns to discuss with your health care provider.
- Stay organized. Keep track of all of your lab results, medicines, and other important health information.
- Talk about side effects. Nearly all medications cause side effects. While most side effects from HIV medicines are mild (if there are any at all) and go away after a short adjustment period, tell your health care provider if you experience any.
What does undetectable mean?
If you’re living with HIV and consistently taking your HIV medications, your viral load will likely become undetectable in blood tests. This is known as being undetectable. While this doesn’t mean that you’re cured, being undetectable does stop HIV from actively damaging your immune system. It also nearly eliminates the risk of passing HIV to another person, even without a condom.
Some of the ways people talk about being undetectable include “viral suppression,” “treatment as prevention,” “treatment is prevention,” or “undetectable=untransmittable (U=U).”
What can I do to stay undetectable?
Even if you are undetectable, it’s still important to talk openly with your partners about your HIV status and their status. Your HIV-negative partners may also consider taking PrEP for extra protection.
It’s also critical to keep all of your appointments and stay up to date on exams, lab work, and your medication routine. If a person with HIV doesn’t take their medications consistently or stops taking them, or the medications need to be swapped out for different ones, their viral load can become detectable again. When that happens, it’s possible to transmit HIV.
Be sure to get your viral load tested as often as your health care provider advises. If your viral load does become detectable, your sex partners may be at risk for getting HIV if they’re not on PrEP and/or if you’re not using condoms.
You’re also still at risk of getting or passing other STIs. It’s recommended that you and your partners still get tested for STIs every three to six months. This is especially true if you have more than one partner.
Looking for sexual health services?
Find low- to no-cost sexual health services near you, like PrEP, STI testing, and more on the Service Locator Map.
Is PrEP right for you?
PrEP is a medication that helps prevent HIV. Take a short quiz to find out if it may be right for you.