HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks and weakens the immune system. If it is left untreated, HIV causes so much damage that the body is no longer able to defend itself.

People who have been infected with HIV are generally referred to as being HIV positive. Although there have been many advances in treatment in recent years, and treatments are very effective in controlling the advancement of HIV, there is still no cure for HIV infection.

AIDS is a term that is now being used less and less. The term more frequently used nowadays is ‘Advanced HIV disease’.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is seen by the appearance of the opportunistic infections that are a result of HIV. HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS.

If you are diagnosed with HIV early, and respond well to treatment, you are not likely to develop AIDS.

As treatment for HIV infection becomes more effective, fewer people in the UK are now given an AIDS diagnosis.

HIV is most likely to be passed on when someone who has HIV (HIV positive) who is not on HIV treatment/medication has anal or vaginal sex someone who does not have HIV (HIV negative) without using a condom. This means that the person without HIV is exposed to the virus.

The cum, vaginal fluids or anal mucus of a HIV positive person (who is not on effective HIV treatment*) is more likely to have a high enough quantity of HIV (a high viral load) in it to infect the HIV negative person.

*If someone who is HIV positive is on and responds well to HIV treatment and has a fully suppressed viral load (often referred to as an undetectable viral load) and has no STIs, it is extremely unlikely that they can pass on HIV to another person, even if they have unprotected sex. Use of condoms, however is an effective way to prevent HIV from being passed on.

Only some body fluids contain a sufficient quantity of the virus to enable HIV infection to occur.

These body fluids are:

• Blood and blood products
• Cum and pre-cum
• Discharge from STIs (such as gonorrhea)
• Vaginal fluids
• Anal mucus (anal mucus is a naturally occurring fluid that lines the inside of the arse)

You cannot become infected with HIV through exposure to urine (piss) or saliva (spit)

Using condoms or femidoms for anal and vaginal sex is the most effective way to prevent HIV from being passed on sexually.

Don’t share injecting equipment if you inject drugs.

Other methods for reducing the likelihood of transmission if you are exposed to HIV include medical preventions such as PEPSE and PrEP.

Shortly after infection with HIV most people experience some symptoms, however some do not. This is known as seroconversion illness, or primary HIV infection. It usually occurs around two to six weeks after someone has been infected.

The most commonly experienced symptoms are often described as ‘flu-like’ and can include:

• A sore throat
• Fever
• Body aches
• A rash

Other common symptoms might include:

• Mouth ulcers
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Muscle pain
• Feeling overly tired or sick.

These symptoms are only linked to infection with HIV if you have been at risk in the last six weeks. Because these symptoms are common to other illnesses, many people do not realise that they are a sign that they have become infected with HIV and may simply think that they are run down or have had the flu.

Testing for HIV is done by taking a blood sample. (There are different testing options – including a finger prick test with almost instant results).

You can get tested for HIV (and other STI’s) 7 days a week with our sexual health services at Birmingham LGBT.

Call us on 0121 643 0821

All of our services are free and confidential

If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone who may be HIV positive, you can reduce your chances of HIV infection by taking post-exposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure (PEPSE) within 72 hours of exposure to the virus (See our section on PEPSE).

If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone who may be HIV positive within the last 72 hours, please visit Whittall Street Clinic (during opening hours) or your nearest A&E department immediately.

Call us for advice during our opening hours on 0121 643 0821.

We are here to support you, not to judge you.

All of our services are free and confidential