the ‘top’) ensuring partners have the same HIV status (i.e. These strategies include: ensuring HIV-negative partners are insertive (i.e. In addition to the use of condoms and lube, there are a range of other strategies that reduce, but don’t eliminate, the risk of HIV transmission. “Treatment as Prevention” (TasP) is when you choose sexual partners who are undetectable as there is not considered to be a risk of acquiring HIV from someone who has been had an UVL for more than six months. In term of HIV prevention, there has never been a case of a person with an undetectable viral load passing on HIV to a sexual partner, a fact backed up by major international studies.
Many people refer to this as being “undetectable”. This means that HIV is no longer able to be detected in their bodies by viral load tests, meaning the amount of virus is their bodies is extremely low. When a person living with HIV is on effective treatment, they often achieve what is called an “undetectable viral load”. Undetectable Viral Load (UVL) & Treatment as Prevention (TasP) They do this by preventing the transfer of bodily fluids or by covering affected genital areas.įind out more about using condoms and staying safe When used with lube, condoms are a highly effective way to ‘stay safe’ and prevent HIV transmission.Ĭondoms also offer protection against a range of other sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Find out more information on how you can access PrEP now here.Ĭondoms prevent or reduce the exchange of semen, vaginal fluid or blood between partners during sex. PrEP is now available on the PBS, making it affordable and accessible across Australia.
People who are using PrEP should consider maintaining their condom use, particularly for casual partners, until you are aware of their testing regimen. If any STIs do occur, get them treated and follow the advice of your sexual health provider. This is why we encourage people who are taking PrEP to regularly check in with their sexual health provider. Although PrEP does not prevent the transmission of other STIs, which can, in turn, increase the possibility of HIV infection. PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. In Australia it is recommended that PrEP is taking as one pill, once a day. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of HIV medication to keep HIV negative people from contracting HIV. This includes the use of condoms, PrEP and/or choosing partners with an undetectable viral load (UVL). There are a range of ways to prevent acquiring HIV, referred to as combination prevention. With appropriate care, treatment and support, the impact on a person’s health and life expectancy can be greatly reduced.įind out more about HIV prevention, testing and treatment on our Ending HIV website Many people with HIV consider the condition a manageable illness. Studies indicate that starting treatment very soon after infection can make a significant difference. Not everyone will get this illness.īeing on appropriate treatment can reduce the risk of developing a range of health conditions associated with HIV. When someone contracts HIV they may experience something called a ‘seroconversion illness’ which is associated with flu like symptoms. Among other things, a damaged immune system can impact on a person’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses. HIV causes significant damage to the immune system over time when left untreated, although the precise impact can vary from person to person. Other forms of transmission include vaginal sex without condoms and sharing of drug injecting equipment. HIV can be transmitted in a number of ways, but for gay men, anal sex without condoms is the most common way. HIV is transmitted when infected body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk or anal mucus) pass from a person with HIV into the bloodstream of an uninfected person. However in New South Wales, the group most affected by HIV is gay and bisexual men who account for around 75% of new HIV diagnoses. For those on effective HIV treatments, the likelihood of receiving an AIDS diagnosis is very small. It’s possible to have HIV for many years before getting any of the illnesses usually associated with AIDS. If untreated, HIV weakens the immune system over time, leaving the person who has HIV open to other life-threatening infections.ĪIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which refers to the range of specific illnesses that a person with HIV may get when their immune system becomes weakened by HIV. The virus affects the body’s immune system, its main defense against disease. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.