Keeping HIV under control
HIV cannot be cured but it can be kept under control with the right medicines. If you have hiv and start taking medicines early enough, you can lead a normal life, and not get aids. You can then live as long as someone without HIV.
There are many different medicines you can take. You often get a combination of several pills. Together, you and your doctor decide which medicines are best for you.
The HIV treatment may affect the effectiveness of other medications. Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines.
The medicine for HIV can have side-effects. Talk to a doctor about it. Usually, the side-effects can be treated. Do not change the amount and do not stop taking your medicine without discussing this with your doctor first.
Taking medicines strictly as prescribed
The medicines only work if you take them exactly the way the doctor tells you to. For the medicines to work you must:
- take the right amount of the medicines;
- take the medicines every day;
- take the medicines at the same time of day;
- take the medicines as prescribed by the doctor, depending on the type you are being prescribed: with or without food.
- never stop taking your medicines without talking to a doctor first. Temporarily stopping your treatment lower the effect.
If you are taking other medicines you need to tell your doctor about it. The medicines may affect how well the HIV medicines work. The HIV medicines can also affect the effectiveness of other medicines you use.
Minimal risk of infecting others
If you take your medicines correctly every day, the amount of HIV in your blood (viral load) lowers. After a few months, it can often no longer be traced, though the virus is still in your body. After six months there is then almost no risk that you will infect someone else.
Having sex when you have HIV
You can have a normal sex life when you have HIV, but it is against the law to knowingly expose others to the risk of being infected with HIV or other STIs without this person consenting to the risk. This is the case both in a steady relationship and for other sexual partners.
If you do what is possible to avoid infecting others, you cannot be punished. For instance: if you use a condom and/or are receiving successful treatment for HIV.
It is advisable to talk to your doctor and your partner if you want to have sexual intercourse with a condom.
Talking to a doctor
You can freely talk to a doctor. A doctor cannot give any information about you to anybody else. He/she is obliged by law to respect your privacy.
