Testing positive for HIV
Everyone responds to a positive HIV test result in their own way - there is no right or wrong way to handle the news. The first thing that will happen is you will be referred on to specialist care who will run a test to confirm your result and give you your diagnosis.
It’s important to take a deep breath and remember these things that might help in this moment:
- You are not going to die. In Aotearoa, you can be connected to free treatment as soon as possible – likely the same day (even if you’re not eligible for funded healthcare).
- Today’s treatments mean that HIV is a manageable condition, and your life expectancy likely remains the same.
- Starting HIV treatment as early as possible increases your chances of getting the most health benefits from your medication.
- Most people on effective treatment get to what is called an undetectable viral load – which means that there is zero risk of passing on HIV.
- There is plenty of support available to help you understand a positive result, answer any questions you have, as well as help you to navigate the health system. We are here to support you.
Prevention
If you’ve already explored our website, you’ll know that there are several ways that you can protect yourself from HIV and other STIs, all of which are even more effective when done in combination with another form of prevention. Your options are:
Condoms and lube: Condoms and lube are the most effective way to protect yourself from acquiring both HIV and STIs. Condoms provide a physical barrier that viruses and bacteria can't pass through. When used consistently and correctly, condoms are extremely reliable. Make sure you use lots of lube for anal sex – it’s absolutely essential for having a good time! We’ll send you as many free condoms are you need.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): This is a daily pill that is an extremely effective HIV prevention method. However, it doesn’t prevent any other STIs, like syphilis or gonorrhoea - so it’s a good idea to keep condoms in the mix to protect from these.
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis): This functions much like the morning-after pill, but for HIV. It’s a month-long course of medication you can take, starting within 72 hours of possible HIV exposure. While this shouldn’t be relied upon, it’s a very useful tool for emergency situations.
U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable): An undetectable viral load is when the amount of HIV in a person’s blood (their viral load) is no longer able to be detected by a standard viral load test for HIV. People living with HIV who are on antiretroviral treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load for at least six months cannot sexually transmit HIV, and the vast majority attain this.
Can I use doxycycline (doxy) to reduce transmission of STIs?
Recent studies have shown that taking doxycycline within 72 hours after having sex can lower your chances of contracting certain STIs such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhoea. This is called DoxyPEP.
While we know that some doctors, both in Aotearoa and overseas, are prescribing doxycycline for this purpose, more research is needed to fully understand the pros and cons of using doxycycline in this way (including the risk of bacterial resistance to doxycycline if using DoxyPEP becomes more common).
We will be monitoring the research and availability of doxycycline as a prophylaxis in Aotearoa and will keep our communities updated as more information becomes available.