Living with HIV

Living with HIV today

In the past, HIV used to be frightening, but today, with advanced treatment, people with HIV can have a long and good-quality life.

A life full of possibility

People with HIV who are treated can work, study, exercise, travel, have relationships, and raise a family. HIV does not decide how you live your life.

Care for body and mind

Living happily with HIV means looking after both physical and emotional health together, along with having supportive people and networks. See the treatment overview at HIV treatment: what you should know.

Caring for physical health

Looking after physical health is an essential foundation of living with HIV.

What to do

• take antiretrovirals consistently to control the virus and protect your health
• attend check-ups to monitor how treatment is going
• look after general health, including diet, exercise, and rest

Habits that support health

Eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking or too much alcohol help keep the body strong and responding well to treatment. Read about antiretrovirals at antiretroviral therapy.

Listen to your body

Noticing changes in your body and telling your health team helps you address things promptly, and being proactive about your health means you truly own it.

Emotional wellbeing

Caring for your mind matters as much as caring for your body, especially in the period after a diagnosis.

A range of feelings is normal

After learning they have HIV, many people feel shocked, worried, sad, or confused. These feelings are normal and usually ease over time and with support.

Find support when you need it

Talking with someone you trust, health staff, or a counsellor helps you cope with your feelings. If stress or worry disturbs your daily life, it is good to seek help from a professional. Read more at mental health and HIV.

Give yourself time

Adjusting after a diagnosis takes time, and there is no need to rush or pressure yourself, so coming to understand and accept it at your own pace is good for your wellbeing.

Relationships and disclosure

Relationships and disclosure are things many people with HIV think about.

U=U brings confidence

Under U=U, a person treated to an undetectable viral load does not pass HIV on sexually, so they can have relationships with confidence. Read the detail at what U=U is.

Disclosure is your choice

Telling someone you have HIV is a personal decision, and you have the right to choose who to tell and when. Disclosing to a partner builds understanding, while telling your health team helps you get the right care.

Dating and partners

Having HIV is not a barrier to relationships and love.

Love is always possible

People with HIV can date, have partners, and build meaningful relationships like anyone else, and many have stable, happy relationships.

Communicate openly

Talking openly with a partner about health, prevention, and U=U builds trust. A partner without HIV may consider PrEP for added confidence, and looking after sexual health together is good for both people.

Work, study, and daily life

HIV is not a barrier to work, study, or daily life.

Work and study as normal

People with HIV can work and study in any field like anyone else. HIV does not reduce your ability or potential.

Your health information is private

In general you do not have to disclose your HIV status to your workplace or school, and your health information is private and protected.

Know your rights

People with HIV are protected from discrimination and have the right to work and study equally, and knowing these rights helps you feel confident. Read about rights at HIV treatment rights.

Family and children

Having a family and children is a dream that people with HIV can make real.

Having children safely

With the right care, people with HIV can plan to have children safe from the virus. When a mother with HIV is treated and her virus is well controlled, the chance of the baby getting HIV is very low.

Plan with a doctor

Consulting and planning with a doctor before or during pregnancy helps keep both parents and baby healthy. Read the detail at HIV and pregnancy.

Support networks

No one has to face HIV alone — there is a lot of support around you.

Sources of support

• your health team, who manage treatment and answer questions
• peer support groups, who understand the same experience
• community organisations, who provide information and help

The power of a network

Having people who understand and support you makes living with HIV much easier, both for encouragement and information. Connecting with a community helps you feel less alone and gives you people to turn to.

Giving is also receiving

Many people find that sharing their experience and helping others in a community lifts them too, so being part of a network is valuable both for receiving and for giving.

Coping with stigma

Although understanding of HIV has improved greatly, some stigma still exists, so coping with it matters.

Understand that stigma comes from not knowing

Most stigma comes from misunderstandings and unfounded fear, and having accurate information, such as about U=U, helps you feel confident and answer questions.

Look after yourself

If you face stigma, having a support network and talking with people who understand helps a lot. Remember that having HIV does not reduce your worth as a person, and you deserve to be treated with dignity.

Choose who you tell

You can choose who to share your status with, and starting with people you trust and who support you helps you feel safe, and you do not have to explain yourself to everyone.

Long-term health

With effective treatment, people with HIV live long lives, so long-term health care matters.

Look after overall health

Like everyone, as people age they may have other health matters to manage, such as blood pressure, diabetes, or heart health, and regular check-ups help cover all of these.

Work with your health team

Having a health team that provides ongoing care helps you manage both HIV and other health matters together. Looking after yourself consistently is the key to good health over the long term.

Planning for the long term

Because people with HIV live long lives, planning for the future — work, finances, and relationships — is possible and worthwhile, just like for anyone, and HIV does not limit your future.

In summary

Living with HIV today is full of possibility. With effective treatment, people with HIV can be healthy, work, study, have relationships, raise a family, and live life fully.

The heart of it is caring for both body and mind, taking medicine consistently, having a support network, and understanding your rights. With U=U and the advances in treatment, HIV is only one part of life, not something that defines your whole life.

If you want to test for HIV, start treatment, or talk about care, find and book a clinic at Love2Test.