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October 2004
Fact Sheets – Health Information for Patients
P.O. Box 6303, Rockville, MD 20849-6303
Telephone: 1-800-448-0440
International: 301-519-0459
Fax: 301-519-6616
TTY/Ttd: 888-480-3739
Live Help: https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/LiveHelp/Default.aspx
Email: ContactUs@aidsinfo.nih.gov
Web: https://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov
These fact sheets are intended for use by people recently diagnosed with HIV infection or those who are considering starting HIV treatment. The fact sheets are designed as a series but may be used as stand-alone documents. Information in these fact sheets is based on Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, developed by the Panel on Clinical Practices for the Treatment of HIV Infection, which is convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in conjunction with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Guidelines, which is a “living document,” provides updates in new advances in the treatment of HIV. The current version of the document is available on the AIDSinfo Web site: https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/.
For more information: Contact your doctor or an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at 1-800-448-0440 or https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/.
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #1
I tested HIV positive. What does this mean? Does it mean I have AIDS?
A positive HIV test result means that you are infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Being infected with HIV does not mean that you have AIDS right now. However, if left untreated, HIV infection damages a person’s immune system and can progress to AIDS.
What is AIDS?
AIDS is the most serious stage of HIV infection. It results from the destruction of the infected person’s immune system. Your immune system is your body’s defense system. Cells of your immune system fight off infection and other diseases. If your immune system does not work well, you are at risk for serious and life-threatening infections and cancers. HIV attacks and destroys the disease-fighting cells of the immune system, leaving the body with a weakened defense against infections and cancer.
Which disease-fighting cells does HIV attack?
CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that fights infections. They are also called CD4+ T cells or CD4 T lymphocytes. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. When HIV enters a person’s CD4 cells, it uses the cells to make copies of itself. This process destroys the CD4 cells, and the CD4 count goes down. As you lose CD4 cells, your immune system becomes weak. A weakened immune system makes it harder for your body to fight infections and cancer.
How will I know if I have AIDS?
AIDS is not a diagnosis you can make yourself; it is diagnosed when the immune system is severely weakened. If you are infected with HIV and your CD4 count drops below 200 cells/mm3, or if you develop an AIDS-defining condition (an illness that is very unusual in someone who is not infected with HIV), you have AIDS.
What are the AIDS-defining conditions?
In December 1992, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the most current list of AIDS-defining conditions*. The AIDS-defining conditions are:
People who are not infected with HIV may also develop these diseases; this does not mean they have AIDS. To be diagnosed with AIDS, a person must be infected with HIV.
What is HIV treatment?
HIV treatment is the use of medications to keep an HIV infected person healthy. Treatment can help people at all stages of HIV disease. Although anti-HIV medications can treat HIV infection, they cannot cure HIV infection. HIV treatment is complicated and must be tailored to you and your needs.
The Fact Sheets in this series provide information about HIV treatment, including when to start medication, which medications are used, how to know if reatment is working, and what can be done if your treatment is not working.
*CDC. 1993 Revised classification system for HIV infection and expanded surveillance case definition for AIDS among adolescents and adults. MMWR 1992;41 (no. RR-17).
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #2
I am HIV positive. What kind of doctor do I need?
Your doctor (or other healthcare provider) should be experienced in treating HIV and AIDS. You may want to see an infectious disease specialist. You will need to work closely with your doctor to make informed decisions about your treatment, so it is important to find a doctor with whom you are comfortable.
What can I expect at the doctor’s office?
Your doctor will ask you questions about your health, do a physical exam, and order blood tests. This is a good time to ask your doctor questions. Write down any questions you have and take them with you to your appointment.
Women should have a pregnancy test (see HIV and Pregnancy Fact Sheet) and a gynecologic examination with Pap smear.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
You should ask your doctor about:
What tests will my doctor order?
It is very important to have a CD4 count and a viral load test done at your first doctor’s visit. The results will provide a baseline measurement for future tests.
The two viral load tests commonly used for HIV are:
To ensure accurate results, viral load testing should be done at two different times, by the same laboratory, using the same type of test. The results of different types of tests may differ.
Your doctor may also order:
Am I ready to begin HIV treatment?
Once you begin taking anti-HIV medications, you may need to continue taking them for the rest of your life. Deciding when or if to begin treatment depends on your health (see Starting Anti-HIV Medications Fact Sheet) and your readiness to follow a treatment regimen that may be complicated. You and your doctor should discuss your readiness to begin treatment as well as strategies to make your treatment work for you (see Adherence and Adhering to a Regimen Fact Sheets).
If my doctor and I decide to delay treatment, will I need to have my CD4 count and viral load tested again?
Yes. HIV infected people who have not started drug therapy should have a viral load test every 3 to 4 months and a CD4 count every 3 to 6 months. You and your doctor will use the test results to monitor your infection and to decide when to start treatment.
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #3
I am HIV positive. Do I need to take anti-HIV medications?
You do not necessarily need to take anti-HIV (also called antiretroviral) medications just because you are HIV positive. You and your doctor will determine the best time to start treatment. When to take anti-HIV medications depends on your overall health, the amount of virus in your blood (viral load), and how well your immune system is working.
How will I know when to start anti-HIV medications?
You and your doctor should consider three factors in deciding when to start treatment: 1) symptoms of advanced HIV disease, 2) viral load, and 3) CD4 count.
You should start treatment if:
You may also consider starting treatment if your CD4 count is between 200 and 350 cells/mm3; this is something you should discuss with your doctor.
If the anti-HIV medications can help me stay healthy, why wait to start treatment?
Once you begin treatment, you may need to continue taking anti-HIV medications for the rest of your life. Although newer anti-HIV medications are easier to take, starting treatment usually means a significant adjustment in your lifestyle. Some anti-HIV medications need to be taken several times a day at specific times and may require a change in meals and mealtimes.
In addition to their desired effects, anti-HIV medications may have negative side effects, some of which are serious. If the virus is not suppressed completely, drug resistance can develop. Side effects and drug resistance may limit your future treatment choices.
What treatment is right for me?
There are 20 anti-HIV medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults and adolescents. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides HIV treatment guidelines to doctors and patients. These guidelines recommend that you take a combination of three or more medications in a regimen called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The guidelines list “preferred” HAART regimens. However, your regimen should be tailored to your needs. Factors to consider in selecting a treatment regimen include:
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #4
When I start treatment, what kinds of medications will I need to take?
Anti-HIV medications are used to control the reproduction of the virus and to slow the progression of HIV disease. Anti-HIV medications are also called antiretroviral medications. There are four classes of FDA-approved antiretroviral medications: NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, and fusion inhibitors. Approved Anti-HIV Medications Fact Sheet lists the FDA-approved antiretroviral medications by class.
How many medications will I need to take?
The recommended treatment for HIV is a combination of three or more medications in a regimen called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). How many pills you will need to take and how often you will take them depends on what medications you and your doctor choose.
Which medications should I take?
Each HAART regimen is tailored to the individual patient – there is no one “best” regimen. You and your doctor will decide which medications are right for you. For people taking HAART for the first time, the recommended regimens are:
Are there any other treatment regimens?
Some people may benefit from a different regimen. Recommended alternative regimens are:
In general, taking only one or two drugs is not recommended because any decrease in viral load is almost always temporary without three or more drugs. The exception is the recommendation for pregnant women, who may take Retrovir alone or with other drugs to reduce the risk of passing HIV to their infants.
If you are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, there are additional treatment considerations. HIV and Pregnancy Fact Sheet has more information on HIV treatment and pregnancy.
What are some of the negative side effects of HAART?
You may experience negative side effects (drug toxicity) when you take HIV drugs. Some of these side effects are serious, even life-threatening; you may have to change drugs due to intolerable side effects. You and your doctor or pharmacist should discuss the side effects of each medication.
Possible side effects of HAART include:
Side effects that may seem minor, such as fever, nausea, and fatigue, can mean there are serious problems. Always discuss any side effects you are having with your doctor.
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet |
|
Antiretroviral: a medication that interferes with replication of retroviruses. HIV is a retrovirus. |
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #5
Anti-HIV (also called antiretroviral) medications are used to control the reproduction of the virus and to slow the progression of HIV-related disease. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is the recommended treatment for HIV infection. HAART combines three or more anti-HIV medications in a daily regimen. Anti-HIV medications do not cure HIV infection and individuals taking these medications can still transmit HIV to others.
Anti-HIV medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fall into four classes:
|
Class |
Generic Name |
Brand and Other Names |
Manufacturer |
FDA Approval Date |
|
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) |
||||
|
NNRTIs bind to and disable reverse transcriptase, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. |
||||
|
Delavirdine |
Rescriptor, DLV |
Pfizer |
April 4, 1997 |
|
|
Efavirenz |
Sustiva, EFV |
Bristol-Myers Squibb |
September 17, 1998 |
|
|
Nevirapine |
Viramune, NVP |
Boehringer Ingelheim |
June 21, 1996 |
|
|
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) |
||||
|
NRTIs are faulty versions of building blocks that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. When HIV uses an NRTI instead of a normal building block, reproduction of the virus is stalled. |
||||
|
Abacavir |
Ziagen, ABC |
GlaxoSmithKline |
December 17, 1998 |
|
|
Abacavir, Lamivudine |
Epzicom |
GlaxoSmithKline |
August 2, 2004 |
|
|
Abacavir, Lamivudine, Zidovudine |
Trizivir |
GlaxoSmithKline |
November 14, 2000 |
|
|
Didanosine |
Videx, ddI |
Bristol-Myers Squibb |
October 9, 1991 |
|
|
Emtricitabine |
Emtriva, FTC, Coviracil |
Gilead Sciences |
July 2, 2003 |
|
|
Emtricitabine, Tenofovir DF |
Truvada |
Gilead Sciences |
August 2, 2004 |
|
|
Lamivudine |
Epivir, 3TC |
GlaxoSmithKline |
November 17, 1995 |
|
|
Lamivudine, Zidovudine |
Combivir |
GlaxoSmithKline |
September 27, 1997 |
|
|
Stavudine |
Zerit, d4T |
Bristol-Myers Squibb |
June 24, 1994 |
|
|
Tenofovir DF |
Viread, tdF |
Gilead Sciences |
October 26, 2001 |
|
|
Zalcitabine |
Hivid, ddC |
Hoffman-La Roche |
June 19, 1992 |
|
|
Zidovudine |
Retrovir, AZT, ZDV |
GlaxoSmithKline |
March 19, 1987 |
|
|
Protease Inhibitors (PIs) |
||||
|
PIs disable protease, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. |
||||
|
Amprenavir |
Agenerase, APV |
GlaxoSmithKline, Vertex Pharmaceuticals |
April 15, 1999 |
|
|
Atazanavir |
Reyataz, ATV |
Bristol-Myers Squibb |
June 20, 2003 |
|
|
Fosamprenavir |
Lexiva, FPV |
GlaxoSmithKline, Vertex Pharmaceuticals |
October 20, 2003 |
|
|
Indinavir |
Crixivan, IDV |
Merck |
March 13, 1996 |
|
|
Lopinavir, Ritonavir |
Kaletra, LPV/r |
Abbott Laboratories |
September 15, 2000 |
|
|
Nelfinavir |
Viracept, NFV |
Agouron Pharmaceuticals |
March 14, 1997 |
|
|
Ritonavir |
Norvir, RTV |
Abbott Laboratories |
March 1, 1996 |
|
|
Saquinavir |
Fortovase, SQV |
Hoffman-La Roche |
November 7, 1997 |
|
|
Fusion Inhibitors |
||||
|
Fusion Inhibitors prevent HIV entry into cells. |
||||
|
Enfuvirtide |
Fuzeon, T-20 |
Hoffman-La Roche, Trimeris |
March 13, 2003 |
|
This information is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Drugs Used in the Treatment of HIV Infection
(available at: https://www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/virals.html)
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #6
How will I know if my HIV treatment regimen is working?
In general, viral load is the most important indicator of how well your regimen is working. Your viral load should decrease if your medications are effective. Other factors that can tell you and your doctor how well your regimen is working are:
How often should I have a viral load test?
Your viral load should be tested 2 to 8 weeks after you start treatment, then every 3 to 4 months throughout treatment to make sure your drugs are still working. HIV treatment should reduce your viral load to the point at which it is undetectable. An undetectable viral load does not mean that your HIV infection is gone; it simply means that the test is not sensitive enough to detect the small amount of HIV left in your blood.
If your viral load is still detectable within 4 to 6 months after starting treatment, you and your doctor should discuss how well you have adhered to your regimen. Missing medication doses is the most common reason for treatment failure and development of drug resistance. Your doctor should do a drug resistance test, which will determine if the HIV in your body has mutated into a strain that your current treatment regimen can’t control.
How fast or how much your viral load decreases depends on factors other than your treatment regimen. These factors include your baseline viral load and CD4 count, whether you have taken HIV drugs before, whether you have HIV-related medical conditions, and how closely you have followed (adhered to) your treatment. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about the results of your viral load tests.
How often should I have a CD4 count?
CD4 counts also indicate how well your treatment regimen is working. Your CD4 count should be tested every 3 to 6 months throughout your treatment. HIV treatment should increase your CD4 count or at least keep it from going down. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your CD4 counts.
My doctor wants to change my treatment regimen. Why?
There are several reasons why you may need to change your treatment regimen. Two of the most important reasons are drug toxicity and regimen failure.
Drug toxicity means that your treatment regimen creates side effects that make it difficult for you to take the drugs.
Regimen failure means that the drugs are not working well enough. See HIV Regimen Failure for more information about regimen failure.
Ask your doctor to explain why you need to change your treatment. If the reason is drug toxicity, your doctor may change one or more of the drugs in your regimen. If the reason is regimen failure, your doctor should change all of your drugs to medications that you have never taken before. If you have been taking three drugs and all three drugs cannot be changed, at least two drugs should be changed. Using new drugs will reduce the risk of drug resistance. See Changing Regimens Fact Sheet for more information about changing treatment regimens.
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #7
What is regimen failure?
Regimen failure occurs when the anti-HIV medications you are taking do not adequately control the infection. Factors that may cause regimen failure include:
What are the three types of regimen failure?
Virologic failure is the most common kind of regimen failure. People with virologic failure who do not change to an effective drug regimen usually progress to immunologic failure within about 3 years. Immunologic failure may be followed by clinical failure.
What happens if my regimen fails?
If your treatment regimen fails, your doctor will evaluate your treatment history, medication side effects, problems you may have had with taking the medications as directed, your physical condition, and results of drug resistance testing to determine why your regimen is failing. You and your doctor may then select a new drug regimen to better control your infection. See Changing Regimens Fact Sheet for more information about changing treatment regimens.
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #8
How will my doctor and I know what medications to use next?
Before changing your treatment regimen, your doctor will try to find out why your current regimen is not working (see HIV Regimen Failure Fact Sheet for causes of regimen failure). Your doctor will evaluate your adherence to the regimen, the regimen’s tolerability, and medication interactions. Whether you and your doctor decide to change your regimen and what new medications you will take will depend on why your current regimen is failing.
What is adherence?
Adherence refers to how closely you follow (adhere to) your treatment regimen. If your regimen is failing because you cannot adhere to it, you and your doctor should discuss why you are having difficulty taking your medication and what you can do to improve your adherence. Your doctor may change your regimen to reduce the number of pills you take or how often you take them. For more information about adherence, see Adherence and Adhering to a Regimen Fact Sheets.
What is tolerability?
Tolerability refers to how many and what types of negative medication side effects you experience. If the side effects are severe, you may need to change your regimen. Your doctor will ask you what side effects you have and how long you have had them. You and your doctor will decide whether to treat the side effects or to change your anti-HIV medications.
What are medication interactions?
Anti-HIV medications may interact with other medications you are taking. This may reduce the effectiveness of the medications or increase the risk of negative side effects. You and your doctor should review all of your medications, including over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies. You should also review whether your medications should be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
Changing Regimens
If your regimen is failing and you and your doctor have ruled out adherence, tolerability, and medication interactions, you should consider changing your regimen. Before changing anti-HIV medications, talk with your doctor about:
Your doctor will confirm that your regimen is failing with at least two viral load tests and three CD4 count counts. You should also be tested for drug resistance while you are taking the failing regimen.
In general, your new treatment regimen should include three or more medications. You and your doctor will choose the medications based on your medication history, results of resistance testing, and medication side effects. If you have already taken many of the FDA-approved anti-HIV medications, your doctor may recommend a new medication under investigation. You may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial using new drugs or treatment strategies. For more information about participating in a clinical trial, ask your doctor, or visit the “Clinical Trials” section of the AIDSinfo Web site at: https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ClinicalTrials/Default.aspx?MenuItem=ClinicalTrials.
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #9
What is adherence?
Adherence refers to how closely you follow a prescribed treatment regimen. It includes your willingness to start treatment and your ability to take medications exactly as directed.
Is adherence important for HIV treatment?
Yes! Adherence is a major issue in HIV treatment for two reasons:
Although there are many different anti-HIV medications and treatment regimens, studies show that your first regimen has the best chance for long-term success. Taking your drugs correctly (adherence) increases your odds of success.
Why is adherence difficult for many people with HIV?
HIV treatment regimens can be complicated; most regimens involve taking multiple pills each day. Some anti-HIV medications must be taken on an empty stomach, while others must be taken with meals. This can be difficult for many people, especially for those who are sick or are experiencing HIV symptoms or negative drug side effects.
Other factors that can make it difficult to adhere to an HIV treatment regimen include:
What can I do to adhere to my treatment regimen?
There are many things you can do to better adhere to your treatment regimen. Adhering to a Regimen Fact Sheet discusses what you can do to improve your adherence both before and after you start taking anti-HIV medications.
One of the most important things you can do when starting a treatment regimen is to talk with your doctor about your lifestyle. He or she will then be able to prescribe a regimen that works best for you. Topics you should address with your doctor include:
Many people adhere well to their treatment early on, but find adherence becomes more difficult over time. Talk with your doctor about adherence during every visit. Your commitment to a treatment plan is critical; studies show that patients who take their medications correctly achieve the best results.
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet |
|
Drug Resistance: HIV can mutate (change form) while a person is taking anti-HIV medication. This may result in HIV that cannot be controlled with certain medications. |
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #10
What should I do before I begin treatment?
Before you begin an HIV treatment regimen, there are several steps you can take to help you with adherence:
Many people find it helpful to identify the activities they normally do at the times they will be taking their medication. People who arrange their medication schedule around their daily routines adhere to their treatment plans better than those who do not.
How can I maintain adherence after I start treatment?
What should I do if I have problems adhering to my treatment regimen?
It is important that you tell your doctor right away about any problems you are having with your treatment plan. If you are experiencing unpleasant side effects, your dose may need to be adjusted or you may need a change in your regimen (see Changing Regimen Fact Sheet for more information about changing your treatment regimen). Missed doses may be a sign that your treatment plan is too complicated or unrealistic for you to follow. Talk with your doctor about other treatment options. Your doctor needs to stay informed to help you get the most out of your treatment regimen and to provide workable treatment options.
Term Used in This Fact Sheet |
|
Adherence: how closely you follow, or adhere to, your treatment regimen. This includes taking the correct dose at the correct time as prescribed by your doctor. |
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #11
I am HIV positive and pregnant. Should I take anti-HIV medications?
You should take anti-HIV medications if:
You should also take anti-HIV medications to prevent your baby from becoming infected with HIV. Specific treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV is discussed below.
What medications should I take if I am pregnant or think I might become pregnant?
If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, you should consider the risks and benefits of HIV treatment to both you and your child. Some medications (such as Sustiva) should be avoided because they may cause birth defects if taken early in pregnancy. The effects of other anti-HIV medications are not yet known. It is important for you to talk with your doctor before and during your pregnancy so that together you can decide on the best treatment for you and your baby.
To reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby, your treatment regimen should include a three-part ZDV (also known as zidovudine, AZT, or Retrovir) regimen.
What is the three-part ZDV regimen?
I am already on an HIV treatment regimen. Do I need to change my medications?
If you are already taking anti-HIV medications, talk with your doctor about the potential risks and benefits to your baby if you decide to continue your treatment regimen during your pregnancy. You and your doctor may decide to change your medications or change your medication dose. Make sure that your regimen includes the appropriate dose of ZDV.
In general, efavirenz (Sustiva), stavudine (Zerit), hydroxyurea, and the oral liquid form of amprenavir (Agenerase) should not be used during pregnancy.
Will my baby be born HIV infected?
No one can tell you for sure if your baby will be born HIV infected. The three-part ZDV regimen has been shown to reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby by almost 70%.
Additional anti-HIV medications can treat your infection and may provide extra protection for your baby. However, the possible problems with using multiple medications during pregnancy are not well understood.
Other actions to help you protect your baby include getting regular prenatal care and adhering to your HIV drug treatment plan (see Adherence and Adhering to a Regimen Fact Sheet).
This information is based on the U.S. Public Health Service’s Recommendations for Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-1-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission in the United States
(available at https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines).
Health Information for Patients
Fact Sheet #12
I am HIV positive and don’t want to infect others. What should I do?
Understanding how HIV is transmitted is an important step in prevention. Talk with your doctor about how HIV is transmitted and what you can do to prevent infecting others. Each time you visit your doctor, discuss your high-risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex and needle sharing.
You may feel reluctant to talk with your doctor about your high-risk behaviors. It can be difficult to change behaviors, even when you want to. However, it is important to be honest with your doctor about risky activities. You and your doctor can then discuss ways to minimize the risk of infecting others.
If you are a woman, you and your doctor should discuss ways to prevent pregnancy. If you want to become pregnant, you and your doctor can talk about what you should do to prevent transmitting HIV to your baby (see HIV and Pregnancy Fact Sheet).
How can I prevent infecting someone else?
Successful HIV treatment can lower your viral load, which may reduce the risk of HIV transmission. But there are other factors that influence sexual transmission of HIV, such as:
Always use prevention strategies, such as condoms and safer sex practices. If you inject drugs, don’t share your works with anyone else. Talk with your doctor if you have trouble sticking to these prevention strategies. You and your doctor can then find ways to make your high-risk behaviors safer.
Should I tell my partners that I am HIV infected?
Yes. It is very important that you tell your sexual partners and people with whom you have shared injected drugs that they may have been exposed to HIV and should be tested. You and your doctor can discuss the best way to notify your partners. Some health departments and HIV clinics have anonymous partner notification systems–your partners are told that they have been exposed, but are not told who reported their names or when the reported exposures occurred.
I am taking anti-HIV medications and my viral load is undetectable. Am I cured? Can I infect others?
An undetectable viral load does not mean that you are cured. It means that the amount of HIV virus in your blood is so low that the viral load tests cannot detect it. You are still infected with HIV and can infect others. You should continue to use prevention strategies and should see your doctor regularly.
It is important to use HIV prevention strategies even if your partner is also HIV infected. Your partner may have a different strain of the virus that could act differently in your body or be resistant to different anti-HIV medications.
For more information:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) provides information about prevention of HIV infections, other sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis.
If you have questions about ways to prevent transmitting HIV, contact your doctor or a CDC NPIN Information Specialist at 1-800-458-5231 or https://cdcnpin.org/.
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Incorporating HIVPrevention into the Medical Care of Persons Living with HIV (available at https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines).