What Is HIV Antiretroviral Medicine, How to Take It, and How Well It Treats HIV
What is HIV antiretroviral medicine, how does it work, when to take it, does it have side effects, and can it cure HIV? Everything to know about ARVs and HIV treatment.
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Everything about HIV — clear and stigma-free
An up-to-date, reliable guide to HIV and STIs, based on trusted sources. Free to read.
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HIV testing
Methods, window periods, and where to test
Read more →HIV prevention
PrEP, PEP, condoms, and safer sex
Read more →Treatment & living well
Antiretrovirals, living well, and U=U
Read more →HIV basics
Symptoms, stages, and transmission
Read more →Sexually transmitted infections
Syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, and testing
Read more →PrEP — prevent before exposure
Taken before exposure, up to 99% effective against HIV. Available daily or on-demand.
Read about PrEP →PEP — emergency after exposure
If you were recently exposed, you must start within 72 hours. Don’t wait.
Read about PEP →Understand HIV and take care of yourself with confidence
HIV — the virus that weakens the immune system — is relevant to everyone, regardless of gender or lifestyle. The good news is that today it is a manageable long-term condition: people on consistent treatment can stay healthy and live a near-normal lifespan. Thai HIV Center brings together clear, stigma-free information covering the basics, symptoms and transmission through to prevention and treatment, so everyone can make confident decisions about their own health.
Sexual-health care starts with knowing your status. An HIV test takes only a few minutes, and Thai nationals can test free twice a year. For ongoing risk, PrEP is medicine taken before exposure that is up to 99% effective; in an emergency after a possible exposure, PEP must start within 72 hours. And if HIV is found, starting treatment early keeps you well and leads to U=U — when the virus is undetectable in the blood, it cannot be passed on sexually.
All of the content on this site is based on guidance from trusted health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the CDC and Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, and is kept up to date. If you have questions or are ready to test, you can book a test and find a convenient clinic right away. Accurate knowledge is the first step toward prevention and long-term care.
Thai HIV Center believes that access to accurate, stigma-free information is everyone’s right. Whether you are looking for information for yourself, someone you care about, or simply to learn, we aim to be a source you can rely on — with links to testing and care services across Thailand.
On this site you will find content covering HIV basics (symptoms, stages and transmission), HIV testing and understanding your results, prevention with PrEP and PEP, treatment with antiretrovirals and living well, and other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes and hepatitis. Every topic is written to be easy to read and genuinely useful.
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Based on trusted sources like WHO, CDC and Thailand’s DDC.
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Frequently asked questions
See all questions →What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus; AIDS is the advanced stage of severe immune damage. Having HIV does not mean you have AIDS — with ongoing treatment, many people never progress to it.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV passes through blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids, and breast milk. The most common routes are condomless sex and sharing injecting equipment.
How is HIV NOT transmitted?
HIV is not spread by hugging, shaking hands, kissing, sharing toilets or dishes, coughing, sweat, tears or mosquito bites. Everyday contact is safe.
What symptoms might suggest HIV?
Some people get flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash or swollen glands about 2–4 weeks after exposure, but many have none. Symptoms alone cannot confirm HIV — only a test can.