GPs do not offer rapid tests. They send people off to a lab and blood is taken there. People then have to wait a few days for results, but these tests are 100% accurate. Ourur rapid HIV tests are 100% sensitive to HIV, they are FDA approved and 98.9% specific to anitbodies.

If the condom broke then there is a risk of contracting HIV. While the risk is greatest for the bottom, it is still high-risk for the top because if the bottom has HIV it can be highly concentrated in the lining of his ass which can then enter the tip of your penis.

PEP is free under certain circumstances, for example if you know that the person you were having sex with is HIV positive. If you aren't sure about his status then you may have to pay. In either case, we recommend visitng your local sexual health clinic or the emergency department of your nearest hospital as soon as possible to find out about your options. For PEP to be effective it needs to be started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after exposure to HIV.

>> Find out more about PEP.

NZAF is not immigration specialists and we strongly advise you discuss your circumstances with an immigration expert.

All visa applications are on a case by case basis, so be honest in all correspondence with Immigration NZ. We suggest you contact Immigration to clarify your queries about healthcare funding.

In NZ, people living with HIV need to be seen by an infectious diseases department or sexual health clinic to initiate medication, as only specialists are able to apply for a special authority for subsidised HIV medication. We advise people to continue to have medication prescribed by their specialist at regular appointments.

For more iformation visit the Immigration Service website.

People travelling to New Zealand on a work visa can access HIV treatment in New Zealand but it will not be funded by Pharmac. Depending on the drug combination the cost, unfunded, would be at least $1000 per month.

NZAF advises people to bring enough medication for the first three months. During that time NZAF can put them in contact with a hospital near where they are working so they can have blood tests. People are also advised to arrange for medication to be sent from their country of origin, so they do not have to pay for it here.

There can sometimes be delays when importing medication into the country, but Body Positive can help, possibly even supplying medication if there is an initial problem. It is also useful for people to bring a letter from their specialist.

Pharmac will only fund HIV treatment for New Zealand residents. It would be difficult for a person living with HIV to gain residency status in New Zealand unless they were in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen or had refugee status.

NZAF is not a licensed immigration advisor and you should seek advice from a licensed immigration advisor before making any decisions.

Immigration New Zealand does not have specific policies on HIV as it is a part of their over-all health policy. People with HIV can apply for a visa, but that doesn’t guarantee they will be approved. Their health will be taken into account when assessing their visa application.  It is worth noting, however, that HIV is listed as a medical condition deemed to impose significant costs and/or demands on New Zealand's health and/or education services (read more).

Here is a link to INZ's health requirements leaflet and health policy for residence and temporary visa application:

Generic health information can be found on the Immigration New Zealand's website.

It’s okay to have sex with a boy.  Always use condoms in order to prevent contracting a sexually transmitted infection and spreading an STI to anyone else.  It’s best to first talk to your girlfriend about having sex outside of the relationship so that you don’t hurt her feelings. You may find it useful to speak a bit more about sexuality.  Give us a ring to talk about this further.
 
 

This is a complex question to address in an online forum. It must be really upsetting to have to navigate other people’s responses and sometimes their lack of understanding about gender identity. It would be good to offer you some support with this issue if you were near one of our NZAF Health Centres. There is unfortunately no easy answer to this dilemma and I imagine you feel quite isolated and despondent at times. The only thing that I can say is that in our work we do get to hear some really wonderful stories of people finding love when they least expect it so try not to give up hope. Are you part of any trans support network? This may help in terms of finding others to discuss similar issues with.

Yes you can. HIV lives in vaginal fluids and there does not need to be wounds present for you to get infected. Using condoms for vaginal sex is the best way of protecting yourself from HIV. If you did not wear a condom, I advise you to get tested for HIV through your GP, sexual health centre or via the NZ AIDS Foundation which offer free rapid tests for HIV (you get your test results within 20 mins). 

There would have been no risk of HIV infection as there was no bodily fluid contact and the HIV virus dies within minutes of being outside the human body anyway. You may have picked up a stomach upset in some other way or sometimes the stress of worrying about these things can cause us to feel unwell.

Hi there,  The time it takes for the symptoms of HIV to be exposed is completely variable - some people experience symptoms a few weeks after being infected while others can go years without HIV being detected in their body. What we can say is that in the situation you've described, there is very little chance that you have contracted HIV. Wearing a condom is the best form of protection during sexual intercourse, and oral sex presents a low risk for HIV transmission. You've taken the right precautions and the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective also ensures high standards of health for sex workers in New Zealand, so it is very unlikely that the symptoms you have are indicative of HIV.