3 ways HIV treatment can help

Protect & improve

your immune system

Lower

the chance of
passing HIV to others

Lead

a longer and
healthier life

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Protect Your Health

If you have HIV, you can take care of yourself. Talk to a healthcare provider about starting HIV treatment. It is one of the most important steps you can take. That is because HIV immediately starts to cause damage to your immune system.

HELP STOP THE DAMAGE

HIV damages your immune system by raising your viral load
and lowering your CD4 count.

The damage to your immune system can cause inflammation. Inflammation is your body's normal response when you get sick or injured. Inflammation stops when you get well or when the injury heals.

But when you have HIV, inflammation goes on 24/7. And that can cause heart, liver, and kidney diseases. That is why starting HIV treatment is so important.

HIV damages your immune system by raising your viral load and lowering your CD4 count
HIV damage to immune system

The damage to your immune system can also lead to infections, cancer, and AIDS. But it does not have to happen.

No cure for HIV

There is no cure for HIV. But HIV treatment can reduce inflammation and the harm HIV does to the immune system.

HIV treatment
has come a long way

HIV medicine

Concerns? Well, HIV treatments have changed. When compared to those first used to
treat HIV, today’s treatments:

  • Are more effective and easier to take
  • Are often between one and three pills per day
  • Have fewer and less severe side effects

A healthier life can
start with treatment

Starting HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis can help stop the virus in your body. Treatment helps lower your viral load. And that can help you:

  • Protect and improve your immune system
  • Fight infections and cancers
  • Stop the virus before it leads to AIDS

Plus, a scientific study shows that starting treatment as soon as possible, and sticking to it, helps reduce the chance of developing AIDS, tuberculosis, and certain cancers.

Take care of your health

The sooner you start treatment and stick to it, the less damage HIV does to your immune system. And that gives you a better chance of living as long as someone without HIV.

Go for Undetectable

Taking HIV medicine every day can lower your viral load. It can get so low that it cannot be measured by a test. This is called being undetectable. That is why it is important to be adherent and take HIV medicine every day as prescribed.

Tell your healthcare provider about anything that keeps you from taking medicine. There is no cure for HIV, but there are steps you can take to be adherent and reach undetectable.

Treatment
as Prevention

Staying on treatment and being undetectable means there is less virus in your body to pass on. It is called Treatment as Prevention, or TasP.

TasP can help lower the chance of spreading HIV through sex by more than 90%. That's a lot. But it is not 100%. So keep using condoms and practice safer sex to protect yourself and the people you care about.

TasP can help lower the chance of passing HIV on through sex by more than 90%.

Talk to a
Healthcare Provider

When you work together, it helps your healthcare provider find the right HIV treatment for you. It also helps the two of you do what is best for your health.

Here's a discussion guide that can
help you get the conversation started.

If You Have Been Diagnosed with HIV

HIV Answers can help you understand and get ready for treatment. Or, if you have already started treatment, you can find clear answers to questions you may still have. All so you can make smarter decisions about protecting your health. You can also download the app to get answers right on your phone.

Not sure where to start? These links can help.

Get more answers

what's next?

These resources can help you
stop the virus.

Locate a Testing Site
Find HIV Care Services
Get Support
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DISCUSSION GUIDE

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