What is HIV?

HIV stands for HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

HIV can harm the immune system, the body’s defence against infection. This means a person with HIV is more likely to contract certain illnesses. If someone with HIV contracts certain serious illnesses (opportunist infections), this condition is then known as AIDS which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

HIV is spread through contact with body fluids - mainly blood, semen and vaginal fluids. This usually happens in the following ways:

• By having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with a person who has HIV
• By sharing needles or other drug injecting equipment with a person who has HIV
• From a woman with HIV to her baby, before birth, during birth or whilst breastfeeding.
• By receiving infected blood, blood products or donated organs as part of medical treatment in a country where these are not tested. In the UK all blood, blood products and donated organs have been routinely tested since October 1985.

HIV is not passed on through casual or social contact, or through the air.

You cannot catch HIV from:

• Sitting next to someone
• Shaking hands, touching, kissing or hugging
• Coughing or sneezing
• Eating in a cafeteria, sharing food, plates, cups or utensils, using toilets, from a swimming pool, bath or taking a shower
• Insect or animal bites

Most people with HIV feel healthy for a long time, so you can’t tell who is HIV Positive just by looking at them

There is no vaccine available against HIV

There is no cure for HIV although antiretroviral drugs are available and this means that some people can stay well for longer

HIV can be diagnosed from a simple blood test which checks the blood for antibodies to HIV. Centres for Sexual Health can provide HIV testing and screening for other infections. All information is completely confidential.

You can go to any Centre in the country without a referral from your GP.

However, as it can take the body up to 3 months to produce HIV antibodies (the "window period") you will probably be advised to defer any testing until 3 months have passed since the last time you put yourself at risk.

If the result is HIV negative?

This means that no HIV antibodies were present in your blood, which usually means that you do not have HIV at the time of testing . You will probably be advised to take a re-test after a further 3 months have passed to confirm the test result.

Even if your test is negative, you can still become infected in the future if you put yourself at risk.

This means that HIV antibodies were present in your blood and that you are HIV positive.

This means that you will need to take particular care of your own health. It also means that you can pass the virus onto other people. So :

• Always use a condom for vaginal, anal or oral sex
• If you inject drugs, do not share your equipment with other people
• Avoid sharing toothbrushes or shaving equipment.

Remember you cannot pass the virus on through casual or social contact.

You will be able to discuss the test result with a health care professional or trained adviser (i.e. one of Body Positive’s trained advisers). These people can talk to you about the possible ways of helping you to decide who and who not to tell about your diagnosis. This may include current and past sexual partners.

There are treatments available to help delay the onset of AIDS and you can discuss whether or not to start these with your consultant. This decision is important as the effectiveness of the treatment depends on starting it at the right time.

If you think you may have HIV, you can contact your Centre for Sexual Health direct (Scunthorpe or Grimsby : http://www.nlg.nhs.uk/services/sexual_health.asp)