Up-to-date, reliable HIV and sexual-health knowledge.
HIV is fragile and loses its ability to infect quickly outside the body, so it isn't transmitted through shared items, toilets, spoons, glasses, or towels. This guide explains why the virus isn't resilient outside the body, which shared items are safe, and what the actual transmission routes are.
HIV drug resistance occurs when the virus mutates so some medicines control it less well. The main cause is inconsistent dosing, frequent missed doses, or stopping medicine on your own. This guide explains what resistance is, what causes it, how to prevent it with consistency and monitoring, and what to do if resistance occurs.
People with HIV who are treated can be healthy, live normally, and have a life expectancy close to the general population. This guide explains holistic self-care — consistent medicine, monitoring, nutrition, exercise, mental health, having support, U=U and relationships, and living in every aspect.
Privacy worries are a barrier that makes many hesitate to test for HIV. The good news is that results are generally treated as confidential medical information, and anonymous testing services exist that don't require identifying yourself. This guide explains privacy in testing, anonymous options, and recommends asking each place about its confidentiality policy.
Many people with HIV have no symptoms for years, because HIV has a latent stage where the virus still damages the immune system silently without showing symptoms. Having no symptoms therefore doesn't mean you're not infected. This guide explains why there may be no symptoms, the stages of HIV, and why testing is the only way to know your status for certain.
Starting antiretrovirals (ARV) for the first time is an important step in health care after learning you have HIV. This guide explains how to prepare, what tests come before starting, how to choose a regimen with a doctor, what to expect after starting, how important consistency is, and getting free medicine under entitlements, plus caring for yourself through the process.
PEP is an emergency antiretroviral that must start within 72 hours of a risk and be taken continuously for 28 days. This guide explains how to take PEP, when to start, when in the day, its side effects and how to handle them, what to do if you miss a dose, and why completing it matters, plus monitoring and precautions.
Semen or fluids contacting intact skin or hands carries virtually no risk of HIV, because intact skin is a natural barrier. This guide explains clearly and accurately why that is, and points out when to pay more attention, such as open wounds or mucous membrane contact.
The cost of HIV testing varies by location. Many public hospitals offer free testing under entitlements, community clinics are often free or low-cost, and private clinics charge a fee. This guide explains the cost picture by channel, how to test for free, and choosing by budget and convenience, recommending you ask the facility for current pricing.
