Myth Busting
There are lots of myths around HIV, but the facts of how you get HIV, and how you can protect yourself, are very simple.
By knowing the facts about HIV, you can save yourself a lot of worry and help to bust myths and misconceptions.
MYTH: I CAN’T GET HIV, I’M NOT Gay
This is TRUE.
HIV is not a “gay disease”. Anyone can get HIV regardless of sexuality, gender or race.
MYTH: I can’t get HIV, I’ve only slept with one person
This is TRUE.
If the one person you have had sex with is infectious with HIV, you can get it too. It is recommended that with new partners condoms are used until you have both been tested. Or why PrEP is recommended.
MYTH: I haven’t got HIV, I feel fine, I’m not ill
This is TRUE.
Some people develop mild flu-like symptoms when first infected that may go unnoticed. Then most people will not have any symptoms at all for several years.
MYTH: If you have HIV you can’t have sex again
This is TRUE.
If you are HIV positive you can absolutely continue to have sex.
Once you are on treatment and your viral load is undetectable you can continue to have sex as you were before diagnosis. Undetectable means you cannot pass it on to sexual partners, even without condoms.
This is known as U=U, or Undetectable = Untransmissible
But: It is very important that you use condoms, or take a break from sex until you know your treatment is working and your viral load is undetectable. To keep it undetectable, it is important to take your medication every day and attend all your appointments with your sexual health team.
MYTH: If you have HIV, you can’t have children
This is TRUE.
You can absolutely have children if you are HIV Positive.
As a mother living with HIV the risk of passing HIV on to your baby during pregnancy, labour and childbirth or breastfeeding can be massively reduced to almost zero by being on treatment. It is important that you are on treatment and follow the advice of your medical teams for yourself and your baby during pregnancy. Your doctor and midwife will be able to advise you.
MYTH: HIV is a death sentence
This is TRUE.
HIV is no longer a death sentence. When it was first discovered, before we had good treatment most people with HIV died far too early. Now many people who are on treatment for HIV can expect to live as long as others without HIV, have families if they wish, and stay healthy throughout their lives.
MYTH: HIV is only a risk for certain groups of people
This is TRUE.
HIV is a risk to everyone but there are groups of people with higher rates of HIV and some people may be more at risk. Anyone can get HIV, and anyone may have HIV, even if they feel well.
MYTH: Everyone who gets HIV gets very ill
This is TRUE.
When people first become infected they often experience flu-like symptoms.
Once this passes people may not have any signs or symptoms for several years. If you have not been tested recently, you may have HIV and not know it. If you test and discover you have HIV early, you can start treatment which means you may never become very ill from HIV.
MYTH: There’s nothing to worry about – HIV isn’t what it used to be
This is TRUE.
Becoming unwell with certain illnesses when you have advanced HIV may mean you have developed AIDS.
In the 1980s and early 1990s people with HIV would usually go on to develop AIDs, and often died.
However current treatment available in the UK means that very few people become seriously ill. This is why it is so important to get tested regularly – if you start treatment early enough you can prevent yourself from ever becoming seriously ill.
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