Conditions
HIV / AIDS
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global pandemic and the fourth biggest killer worldwide. HIV is an incurable sexually transmitted infection that can be passed during unprotected anal, vaginal and also oral sex, via blood, semen, vaginal fluids and even breast milk. It can also be transmitted by sharing dirty needles, which places intravenous drug users at risk. Although gay men who engage in unprotected sex are a high risk group, anyone who fails to practice safe sex risks infection. A blood test (usually taken 1-3 months after the risk of infection has been identified) can detect the presence of the virus, which attacks the body’s immune system and leaves those infected susceptible to life-threatening conditions (AIDS is the latter stages of HIV when the immune system has stopped working). If you contract HIV, then counselling, regular blood tests, and a daily cocktail of drugs, which work to slow the progress of the virus and effectively manage the condition, will unfortunately become a way of life.
To find out more about HIV & AIDS there are numerous support groups:
NHS Choices
BUPA
Patient.co.uk
The Terrence Higgins Trust
Comments and Questions
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i am hiv positive diagonised when i got my first child to my husband of 15 years who turned out to be negative. Thankfully we are still happilly married and our son is well and helthy. i started taking medication 3 years ago and i am so glad all has turned out well. i am on one pill a day and it does not inhibit my life in any way. if anything being on the medication has given me a new energy and i feel healthy and confident in myself. for those who are not infected, please stay safe. condom is the word. it doesnt matter how long you have coted or you know them..if only i knew this. i dont regret mylife for everything has turned out well but there is a but...
I had unprotected sex 4 years ago on my stag party and have been worried ever since. I have lots of symptoms that are linked to HIV and the health of my wife hasnt been great for a couple of years now, again with hiv symptoms. I have never told my wife of my moment of madness but i am soooooooo frightened i have hiv and passed it to my wife and daughter. I have had 2 Dr Thom hiv home syliva tests that both came back negative and i have also had numerous hiv home testing kits from the net that have also tested positive but how accurate are these tests, does anybody really know??? I even became a blood donor 3 years ago and i know they test for HIV. Are all these ways of testing yourself as accurate as a gum clinic test...Please someone help!
Me and my wife are HIV+ and we have been together for 8 years we think one of us has had it for at least 9 years we are not sure, we are living our life with it, but the one thing we want is a baby every time we mention it to our clinic they dont really help, at the moment our counts are both around the 200 mark and dont seem to move that much, anyone who could tell us we can or we cant would be good then at least we know and stop thinking about it
Ir is more than possible to have a family with this condition. First and foremost is to seek advice from your consultant. There are sperm washes for males infected with the condition, and there are also methods for if the woman has the condition. Above all the conditions have to be right for the possibility of a healthy child. And that, is a great possibility.
i was infected when i was 13 so i`ve always looked at hiv as a small part of myself and my life,i`ve always been aware of what i can do to protect myself and what other partners should do to protect themselves
Its great to share these experiences and to show that there is help and treatment available. I'm in the position of where I may have symptoms , i.e blothcy skin, Hives like condition on skin, muscle and skelital pain. Then it all goes away, the skin rash comes back with heat ? then dissapears once cool or cream applied. I had unprotected sex about 3 years ago, am now in a relationship ! I know I need to have a test ! But keep teling myself that I'm not at risk as my general health is good. is there any resource or site that can clearly define symptoms.
The only way to tell if you have the HIV virus is by having a blood test. The Terrence Higging Trust website is a good source for information. There are no symptoms for HIV. It is best to have a test and there are clinics that offer rapid testing and you can get the results in an hour. If anything it will put your mind at rest you might not have the virus!
I have been HIV+ for about 7 years now, and been on antivirals for the past 4 and I am doing really well - the medication is not without its side effects, they effect people in different ways but they can be managed. The worst thing I find is the feeling of being alone, I dont know anyone with HIV who I can talk too and see how they cope - yes my family know and my partner and i have a close network of people I trust but sometimes as much as they are a fantastic support it can be tough at times... We need to get over this stigma attached to HIV and people need to be educated, although its something that cant be cured it can be treated and you can lead a relatively normal life - the physical issues are much easier to a doctor to manage and treat than the physiological.
I have had HIV for a year and I was so shocked and upset when I heard I am HIV positive. But the Doctor at the GUM clinic told me, I can live a normal life now and will go onto medication in a few years time. Sometimes I do feel upset about my status but am glad I got tested or else I would not have known.
Hi stever..yes i know how you feel i feel the same way too..i felt like the world had just come to an end to me and i was pregnant so we will just have to live with it and dont feel sorry for yourself..life has to comtinue.
I had unprotected sex 4 years ago and since become a blood donor, giving 4 donations to date. I havent really thought about my silly mistake until now. I know when giving donations its always tested for hiv but does anyone now just how accurate those tests are??
Hi Mark Am sure the hiv tests for blood donations are accurate.if you had unprotected sex 4years ago then you definetly would have had symptoms by now.the window period is 3months so dont worry.to put your mind at rest go and have an hiv test and you can permanently stop worrying.
HIV is very worrying as posted comments reveil! I have had HIV now for 23yrs and YES.. living with it! I manage the disease with anti-retroviral drugs( few pills twice a day)and the superb care I get from my area GUM clinic & their consultants. I am living proof that if you deal with the initial'HIV testing'help & support is out there for you.I am male 44yrs,had partner now for 22yrs and still work full time.My life is now very manageable,with hard work of course! So come on guys.. Get tested and deal with it.Be responsible,Help is available.
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