There is a lot of misinformation about these conditions, so you are forgiven if you are a little confused! Let’s clear it up for you. 

What is HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a virus that attacks the cells of the immune system. In healthy people, the immune system acts as a defensive barrier that stops us from getting sick from things like the flu virus or a bacterial infection. In people with HIV, these defensive cells (known as CD4 Cells) are taken over by HIV and destroyed. This results in a weaker and weaker immune system and a progressively sicker individual. 

However, with treatment people with HIV can live healthy and full lives. 

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is caused by HIV.

It is important to note that not everyone who is HIV positive has or will develop AIDS.

A person is said to have developed AIDS when HIV infection is very advanced, that is when HIV has attacked and destroyed the immune cells to a point where a person is no longer able to fight off infections and the number of CD4 Cells has dropped below a certain level in a HIV positive person. If left untreated, it can take about 10 to 15 years for HIV to damage the immune system enough for AIDS to develop.

How is HIV Transmitted?

HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluids.

Risk Factors for HIV Transmission:

• Unprotected Sexual Intercourse: Engaging in vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an HIV-positive person can lead to transmission. Note that while oral sex carries a lower risk, the presence of cuts or ulcers in the mouth or genitals increases the chance of infection.
• Sharing Needles: Using contaminated needles or syringes, often associated with drug injection, can spread HIV.
• Blood Transfusions: Receiving blood from a contaminated transfusion. This is rare in Australia due to rigorous screening of all blood donations for infections, including HIV.
• Mother-to-Child Transmission: HIV can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
• Tattoos and Piercings: Using unsterilised or contaminated needles for tattoos or piercings poses a risk of HIV transmission.

HIV cannot be transmitted through:

• Kissing
• Sneezing, coughing, sharing cutlery, swimming pools, showers or toilet seats
• Insects
• Sterile needles

How to Protect Yourself Against Infection

Use a condom and barrier contraception every time you have sex and learn to use them correctly.  If you are an intravenous drug user, always use clean sterile needles.

Where Can I Get Tested?

You can have an HIV test completed at your local doctor, hospital, or family planning clinic. Check out this site to find the nearest Sexual Health Clinic to you.

What to do if I or someone I know tests positive

For many people finding out that you or someone you know is HIV positive is a very stressful and confusing time but there are MANY resources and organisations available all over Australia that can help you. If you are in Victoria, Thornharbour Health and the Department of Health website are good stars. Nationally, there is the National Association of People with HIV Australia. 

HIV/AIDS in Australia, Past and Present

In the 1980s and 90s there was an HIV epidemic that impacted low-income and queer communities. For much of the 80s, political organisations campaigned for more research and treatment for the disease. Learn about HIV in Australia from this ABC video.   

In 1987 annual HIV diagnosis was at an all-time high with over 2000 people diagnosed that year. in the early 1990s, 1,000 Australians were dying of AIDS each year. After much protest, the Australian government carried out a HUGE campaign to raise national awareness of HIV/AIDS. With the use of antiviral treatments on the rise, over time less and less people contracted and died from HIV/AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS crisis impacted the queer people significantly. There was a lot of fear surrounding the virus and widespread homophobia and transphobia. Due to the oppression of this community, treatment for HIV/AIDS was significantly delayed and many vulnerable people died needlessly. Now, however, there have been significant advancements in treatment. It is still not curable but people with HIV can live full and healthy lives.

Top myths about HIV/AIDS

It is super important to learn about the myths surrounding HIV/AIDS and how it is transmitted so that we can minimise the hurt, fear and discrimination of HIV positive individuals.

• HIV/AIDS can be cured.
  Unfortunately this is a myth, HIV/AIDS cannot be cured but it can be treated. Antiretroviral drugs are able to keep HIV at very low levels which prevents AIDS and other infections from developing. This allows many HIV positive people to lead full lives.
  

• HIV/AIDS is not a problem in developed countries like Australia and The US.
  HIV/AIDS is present in EVERY country worldwide. However, the availability of medication in developed countries has reduced the number of deaths from HIV/AIDS.
  

• Being HIV positive is a death sentence.
  While it’s true that HIV/AIDS has no cure it can be successfully treated with antiretroviral drugs that allow people with HIV to lead happy, full and long lives.
  

• You can tell by looking at a person that they have HIV/AIDS.
  Not true. In some people it can take up to 10 years for HIV to show up and cause symptoms, but they are still able to transmit HIV. Medication is also available to HIV-positive people which acts to reduce their HIV levels and help them live normal lives. So you cannot tell if a person has HIV.
  

• Only gay men and drug users can get HIV/AIDS.
  Actually, HIV is transmitted in similar ways in heterosexual sex, and across the world just as many women are HIV positive as men.
  

• HIV-positive women will always have HIV-positive babies.
  Women who know about their positive HIV status and get treatment early in their pregnancy have an approximate 2% chance of having a baby with HIV. Without treatment, the risk is higher but not certain. HIV-positive women are told not to breastfeed their babies as this is another way HIV can be transmitted.
  

• An HIV-positive person who receives treatment cannot spread the virus to others.
  Yes and no. Antiretroviral drugs act to reduce the amount of HIV in the body, it doesn’t eliminate it, so even if the person is taking medication they can still transmit HIV. However, when an HIV-positive person’s level of HIV is so low it is undetectable, it means they are unable to pass it along to a partner. This can happen within 6 months of taking Antiretroviral therapy, and is known as being ‘undetectable’.
  

• Women can’t give men HIV.
  It is rarer, but possible for women to transmit HIV to men, this is because the penis is only exposed to HIV-positive women for the time that it is inside the vagina, rectum or mouth. It is more common for men to transmit the virus to women, as semen can remain for days inside the vagina, hence increasing the time of exposure to HIV.

Where to get help

Getting diagnosed or someone you know getting diagnosed with HIV can be very daunting, the best thing that you can do is lean on your support system and get the appropriate help. 

• • Thornharbour Health specialises in queer and HIV-related health issues and has a specialised counselling service that is affordable. 
  • The National Association for People with HIV in Australia has many resources including counselling and support services. 
  • Kids Helpline is a free, private, and confidential phone and online counselling service specifically for young people in Australia. 
  • Eheadspace Offers free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends. 
  • QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships