All about HIV
Your questions - answered
Got questions about HIV? You’re not alone. We’ve answered some of the most common ones below—covering everything from how HIV works to how it’s treated.
What is HIV – and what does it do?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It weakens the immune system by targeting white blood cells (CD4 cells), which help your body fight off infections. Without effective treatment, HIV can make it harder to stay healthy.
But here’s the good news: HIV medication today is so effective that people living with HIV can expect to live just as long as anyone else. Effective treatment stops the virus from damaging the immune system and protects against illness
How is HIV passed on?
HIV can only be acquired when one person’s bodily fluids (blood, semen, anal mucus and vaginal / frontal fluids) get inside another person’s body. Most activities pose no risk of getting HIV, but the most common ways it can be passed on include:
- sex without a condom
sharing drug injecting equipment - sharing sex toys
- parent-to-child transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding (if the parent isn’t on treatment)
- coming into contact with
- contaminated blood
You can’t get HIV from:
- Kissing, hugging or shaking hands
- Sharing toilets, cups, plates or bedding
- General social contact
- Someone whose HIV is undetectable (more on that below)
If you’re wondering whether you could have HIV, the best next step is to take a free test. It’s quick, confidential, and could give you peace of mind—or help you start treatment early.
Questions about HIV
1. What does U=U mean?
If someone with HIV is on effective treatment and their viral load becomes undetectable, they cannot pass the virus on to anyone else. This is known as U=U or Undetectable = Untransmittable.
It’s one of the most powerful facts we know about HIV today. Medication not only protects your health, it protects your partners too.
2. Is HIV the same as AIDS?
No. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a term used to describe a collection of illnesses that can happen when HIV is left untreated for a long time.
In the UK, doctors now talk about late-stage or advanced HIV instead. Thanks to free and effective treatment, very few people in the UK develop serious HIV-related illnesses.
3. What is late diagnosis?
A late diagnosis means someone has been living with HIV for a while without knowing it—and only finds out once their immune system is already weakened.
This can happen because HIV often has no symptoms for years. Some people get flu-like symptoms a few weeks after infection, but then feel fine. Without testing, they may not realise they have HIV until more serious symptoms appear.
In 2022, people diagnosed late were 10 times more likely to die within a year than those who tested early. Late diagnosis is more common among Black African communities, older people, women, and heterosexual men.
Regular testing helps catch HIV early—so treatment can start before any damage is done.
4. Can I get HIV if I'm pregnant?
Yes — if you’re not using correct protection you can acquire HIV at any point, but with the right care, HIV can be managed safely during pregnancy. If someone living with HIV is on effective medication and has an undetectable viral load, the risk of passing HIV to their baby is virtually zero.
Pregnant people are routinely offered an HIV test as part of antenatal care. If HIV is detected, treatment can start straight away to protect both parent and baby.
5. Can I have children if I'm living with HIV?
Yes. With the right care and effective medication, people living with HIV can get pregnant and have children without passing on the virus.
6. What is HIV stigma — and why does it matter?
HIV stigma means negative attitudes or discrimination towards people living with HIV. It can stop people from getting tested, starting treatment, or talking openly about their health.
But stigma is based on outdated ideas. Today, people with HIV who are on effective medication can live long, healthy lives — and can’t pass the virus on.
Ending stigma is key to ending HIV. That starts with facts, not fear.
7. Do I have to pay for an HIV test?
No. HIV testing in London is free for everyone – including visitors, migrants and asylum seekers. The only time you’d need to pay is if you need results very quickly – for this you can test at home with kits from pharmacies like Boots and Superdrug.
Free options include ordering a test online from Sexual Health London, whereby they’ll deliver the test to your preferred address, arranging an appointment at a sexual health clinic, or asking your doctor for a test.
Questions about PrEP
1. How do I take PrEP?
If you’re taking daily PrEP, take 1 tablet every day, around the same time each day. It’s better to take PrEP with or after food. Wait 7 days after you start taking it before you have sex without a condom.
If you want to start taking daily PrEP but think you may have sex within the first 7 days, take 2 tablets at least 2 hours before you have sex. Then continue to take 1 tablet each day.
There is different guidance for taking PrEP on demand. The NHS has more information on the various ways to take PrEP.
2. Is PrEP safe?
Yes. PrEP is safe for most people and doesn’t interfere with hormones, contraception, or other medications. You’ll have regular check-ups to monitor your health and make sure PrEP is working for you.
3. Are there side effects?
Some people do experience mild side effects when taking PrEP including feeling sick, dizzy, having headaches or trouble sleeping. If you do experience these, they usually pass after the first few weeks.
More serious side effects can include allergic reactions and kidney problems. If you are having an allergic reaction, call 999 immediately. The NHS has additional information about all potential side effects.
4. Can I take PrEP whilst pregnant?
According to NHS and public health guidance, PrEP is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It can help protect both you and your baby from HIV. Your clinic will support you with regular check-ups to make sure PrEP is working well for you throughout your pregnancy.
5. Can I take PrEP and gender affirming hormones?
If you’re taking hormones, you can still take PrEP. There’s no evidence that PrEP interferes with gender-affirming hormone therapy, and you don’t need to change your hormone dose to use it. You can take PrEP daily or on-demand, depending on what works best for your body and your sex life.
Questions about condoms
1. What's the best way to protect myself from STIs, including HIV?
You can protect yourself and your partner from HIV and other STIs by making sure that exposure does not occur – and by reducing the chance of HIV or STI transmission to yourself or your partner if exposure does occur.
Condoms are a cheap, easy and effective way to protect against HIV and STIs.
Biomedical prevention methods are also highly effective against HIV. These biomedical methods include PrEP, PEP and Undetectable.
2. What condoms should I use?
You should only use condoms which carry a British Standard kitemark or CE mark and which are within their expiry date.
The human body varies widely – and because of this variety condom manufacturers have created a huge range of different types of condom to suit individual size, shape and sensitivity. So shop around until you find the kind that fits you best.
Some people have a latex (rubber) allergy. For those people, non-latex condoms, like Durex Avanti, Mates Skyn and Pasante Unique should be used.
For people who have problems with condoms, such as loss of sensitivity, or premature ejaculation, there are products on the market to help with this. Extra thin condoms are available from most shops and online. Some outlets also sell ‘delaying’ condoms which can help with premature ejaculation.
3. What lubricant should I use?
If you don’t use enough lubricant, or use the wrong kind, it can increase the risk of “condom failure”. This makes transmission of HIV and other STIs possible.
You should only use water-based lubes (for example K-Y Jelly, Liquid Silk and ID Glide) and silicone-based lubes (Eros Bodyglide and Skyn Max) with latex condoms.
Using oil-based lubricants such as Vaseline, cooking oil, moisturiser, sun cream, baby oil or butter is very risky as these products damage condoms and can cause them to break. However, oil-based lubricants can be used ONLY with non-latex condoms such as Durex Avanti, Mates Skyn or Pasante Unique.
One last thing: don’t rely on saliva to lubricate your condom as it dries quickly, and your condom could tear easily.
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Learn more about living with HIV, and access resources for support.