Someone living with a HIV+ diagnosis whose condition is being well managed is no more or less at risk of contracting Coronavirus than a someone who does not have HIV.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus which, over time, damages the human immune system. The immune system is the body’s defence against infectious organisms and infections. In most cases, the immune system keeps people healthy and prevents infections, but sometimes problems with the immune system can lead to illness and infection.

HIV is transmitted in very specific ways. The most common are:

through unprotected penetrative sex where one partner is HIV+, from mother-to-baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, and through sharing infected equipment for preparing and injecting drugs.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is the result of damage to the immune system caused by untreated HIV. If someone has AIDS they may become unwell and develop particular illnesses. More detailed information and advice can be found on The British HIV Association website.

No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. AIDS is advanced HIV when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope. Fortunately, an AIDS diagnosis is rare in Northern Ireland thanks to existing and developing treatments.

PrEP is an antiretroviral medicine which prevents contracting HIV during unprotected sex.

PEP is a course of drugs that can be taken if you have exposed to HIV. It has to be taken within 72 hours of exposure, so if you think you may have been exposed to HIV, you should visit an Accident and Emergency department or a Genito Urinary Clinic where the risk can be assessed and PEP prescribed if appropriate.

To find out more about PEP, PrEP or any other enquiry, please contact our free, confidential helpline on 0800 137 437 or call Positive Life on 02890 249 268 and speak to a member of the team.

Other useful links:

Public Health Agency (NI)

NI Direct Advice & Guidance regarding Coronavirus

Relate NI | Covid 19 Relationship Support

Advice Space

HIV does not discriminate.

Anyone who has unprotected sex or shares infected needles is at risk of HIV transmission.

It is true that gay men are disproportionately affected by HIV but there are as many heterosexual people living with HIV in Northern Ireland.

It is thought that approximately 20% of people living with HIV do not know their status.

The only way to be sure is to get tested.

Although there isn’t a cure for HIV, diagnosis and treatments have come a long way since the 1980s and is now so advanced that it is no longer the death sentence it was.

In Northern Ireland people living with HIV can have a near-normal life expectancy and live fulfilled and healthy and lives.

Early diagnosis is particularly crucial as the longer HIV goes undiagnosed the more damage it can do to the body.

Adherence to medication also plays a vital role in maintaining good health.

You can only contract HIV if you have sex without a condom or share a needle or injecting equipment with someone living with HIV. HIV is not spread through day-to-day contact, touching, kissing, or sharing utensils. In addition, the science and clinicians now tell us that when someone has an undetectable viral load, and they are adhering to their HIV treatment regime the virus will not be transmitted.

Remember, U=U.

Undetectable means Un-transmittable.

If someone living in the UK with HIV decides to have a baby, they can do so successfully. In the UK following the guidance of a consultant there can be as little as a 1% transmission if the right steps are taken. A screening programme was set up for all pregnant mothers in 2003 and since then there has been no mother to baby transmissions in NI.

Most HIV testing in Northern Ireland is done in a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.

These clinics are legally bound not to reveal personal details and test results.

GPs and private doctors sometimes offer HIV tests, which mean your HIV test and results would appear on your medical records, but these should still never be discussed with anyone else unless it is relevant to your treatment.

For more information about how Positive Life use your information, and our confidentiality policy, click here.

The most common way to contract HIV is through unprotected sex. Using a condom is an extremely effective way of protecting against HIV transmission. Always use a condom when having sex, particularly if you have more than one partner, if you are not using PrEP or if you haven’t had a recent sexual health check-up. When using a lubricant as well as a condom (which is particularly recommended for anal sex) make sure it is water-based.

Positive Life offer a rapid testing service which will give an indicative result after 20 minutes. Due to government restrictions regarding coronavirus this service is currently by appointment only.

Click here to find out more about our Rapid Testing Service

Please contact a member of the team on 028 9024 9268