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It's important to always take your HIV treatment at the right times and in the right amounts. If you don't, HIV may become drug resistant.When...
From: The basics
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Hepatitis C can be passed on during sex that could lead to contact with semen, rectal mucus or blood.Many gay men with HIV have picked...
From: The basics
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HIV testing in the UK is free, voluntary and confidential. You can be tested at an NHS sexual health clinic, a GP surgery or a...
From: The basics
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When the blood of a person who has hepatitis C enters the bloodstream of another person, that person could get hepatitis C.Tiny and unseen traces...
From: The basics
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Rapid
tests are usually reliable for long-standing infections, but are sometimes
unable to detect recent HIV infections...
From: Factsheets
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These
are the recommended tests for routine use in the UK.They
test for p24 antigen as well...
From: Factsheets
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Blood samples that you collect yourself and send
off for analysis are usually tested with fourth-generation laboratory assays. The method is expected to be extremely accurate,
although...
From: Factsheets
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Most devices for self-testing (home testing) are
modified versions of professional tests, with comparable sensitivity and
specificity.Self-tests are usually
reliable for long-standing infections,...
From: Factsheets
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The presence of antiretrovirals may suppress the
immune response and the production of antibodies.Rapid tests and self-tests should not be used to
confirm HIV infection in people...
From: Factsheets
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Tests always produce a small number of false
positive results.In settings where very few people have HIV, a
higher proportion of reactive results will be false positives.To...
From: Factsheets
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False negative results most often occur when
people test in the first few weeks after infection, during the ‘window period’.After this, they are extremely rare.
In most...
From: Factsheets
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Modern HIV tests are able to detect most
infections within a month of exposure.They can detect almost all infections within two
months.Fourth-generation laboratory tests have shorter
window periods...
From: Factsheets
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The sensitivity of a test is the percentage of results that will be correctly positive when HIV is actually present. Lower rates of sensitivity will...
From: Factsheets
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The risk of infection following a needlestick injury
is very low.There have been no definite cases of HIV
infection among healthcare workers following an occupational needlestick injury
in...
From: Factsheets
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Randomised studies of PEP have not been done, but experience suggests it
is effective in preventing HIV infection.PEP is most effective when it is started soon...
From: Factsheets
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Using condoms correctly will prevent them breaking, leaking or slipping off during sex.Use only water-based or silicone lubricants, not oil-based. If you lose your erection...
From: Factsheets
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Female condoms are
also known as internal condoms, and can be used for both vaginal and anal sex.
As they provide a
physical barrier, they are likely to...
From: Factsheets
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PEP involves taking a 28-day course of anti-HIV drugs, after
possible exposure to HIV.Doctors will assess your risk of HIV infection before
prescribing PEP.PEP is available from...
From: Factsheets
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In the UK the recommended first-line PEP medications of emtricitabine/tenofovir and raltegravir
are generally well tolerated by most people.Nonetheless, some people do have short-term problems with...
From: Factsheets
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The sooner you know you have HIV, the sooner you can get the medical care you need. If you know you have HIV, you can...
From: The basics
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Many GPs offer services which are not available at your HIV clinic.To access a GP you must be registered as their patient.You don't have to...
From: Factsheets
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Condoms protect against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.Both female and male condoms are available.It’s important to follow the advice on how to use...
From: Factsheets
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As you get older, your circumstances and your needs are
likely to change. While it’s hard to know exactly how life will be in a few
years’...
From: Booklets
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Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection that
is transmitted in some of the same ways as HIV.Over time untreated hepatitis C...
From: Factsheets
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NAM's factsheet on home delivery of HIV treatment; who's eligible and how it works...
From: Factsheets
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To ensure they can give you the right care and treatment, it can be important to tell health professionals that you are living with HIV.There...
From: Factsheets
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You may find that a pill box, a phone alarm or a diary helps you with adherence.Adherence can be more challenging when travelling or when...
From: Factsheets
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Kaposi’s sarcoma remains one of the most common cancers in people living with HIV.HIV treatment protects against Kaposi’s sarcoma and slows down disease progression.People with...
From: Factsheets
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Problems with thinking and memory can have a wide range of causes.A healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of cognitive impairment in later life.Cognitive impairment caused...
From: Factsheets
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For women taking HIV treatment, the intrauterine
device (IUD) is the recommended method of emergency contraception.Women taking some anti-HIV drugs need to take a
double dose of...
From: Factsheets
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Your
choice of contraception will depend on your situation and preferences.There
are possible interactions between some hormonal contraceptives and some anti-HIV
drugs. Your HIV treatment needs to be...
From: Factsheets
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If a woman has
HIV, it is possible for it to be passed on to her baby during pregnancy or
delivery, or through breastfeeding. For this reason,...
From: Booklets
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Changes to your lifestyle can reduce your risk
of diabetes.Diabetes requires frequent monitoring and can
have serious consequences if left untreated.
Rates of diabetes are higher in people...
From: Factsheets
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Illnesses and drug side-effects can contribute to fatigue.People often report an increase in their energy levels after starting HIV treatment.A healthy balanced diet may help...
From: Factsheets
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Sleep is essential to physical and mental health.Anxiety, depression, drug or alcohol use, and illness can
contribute to sleep problems.Simple lifestyle changes may be enough to...
From: Factsheets
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A balanced diet will provide all the vitamins and minerals
most people need.Large doses of vitamin and mineral supplements can be
harmful.Several herbal remedies can interact dangerously...
From: Factsheets
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Travelling to a new time zone may affect when it’s best to
take your medication.If you have an undetectable viral load, taking one dose a
few hours...
From: Factsheets
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Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.Exercise has many physical benefits and can also improve mental health.It is recommended that adults do moderate...
From: Factsheets
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HIV tests are available in lots of healthcare settings. Home HIV testing is also available.Laboratory tests are the most accurate but rapid tests can be...
From: Factsheets
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This briefing paper provides an overview of pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP) for people planning, commissioning or providing HIV
prevention activities in the UK. It does this by reviewing...
From: HIV prevention briefing papers
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Self-sampling and self-testing are new options for taking an HIV test.You don't need to see a doctor or nurse to use home testing kits.HIV tests...
From: Factsheets
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This briefing paper, produced by NAM for HIV Prevention England, provides an overview of HIV diagnostic tests for people planning, commissioning or providing HIV prevention...
From: HIV prevention briefing papers
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Sex, desire and pleasure need not stop when
you have an HIV diagnosis. Women continue to be sexually active and to have
fulfilling sexual and emotional relationships.
Many...
From: Booklets
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If you are ‘HIV positive’ this means that you have a virus
called HIV in your body. It doesn’t mean that you are ill, or that...
From: Booklets
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This briefing paper, produced by NAM for HIV Prevention England, describes the scientific
evidence for HIV treatment as prevention and considers its implications for the UK....
From: HIV prevention briefing papers
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Information on the
provision of NHS health care to non-UK citizens....
From: Social & legal issues for people with HIV
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A practical introduction to the evidence regarding the effectiveness of
non-biomedical HIV prevention methods....
From: Preventing HIV
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Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been in use, in healthcare settings, since
1988. Providing PEP after sexual exposure is more controversial....
From: Preventing HIV
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Pre-exposure prophylaxis is an experimental HIV-prevention strategy that would
use antiretrovirals (ARVs) to protect HIV-negative people from HIV infection....
From: Preventing HIV
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Microbicides are any substances which protect people against infection by
microbes, such as viruses or bacteria, on contact with those microbes....
From: Preventing HIV