About HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that can weaken the immune system. It can come into the body through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and rectal fluids. Fluids like saliva and urine, and casual contact like touching, can't pass it on. HIV also can't be passed on by people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load, having taken treatment for at least 6 months.

More detailed information on HIV can be found here.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of HIV can be general and easily mistaken for other illnesses, so try to not freak out if you notice something different about your body.

Symptoms of HIV can include the following:

Generalised rash
Fever
Fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes
Sore throat.

And sometimes, HIV can have no symptoms at all. The best way to know whether you are living with HIV is to get tested.

What is undetectable viral load?

Undetectable viral load, sometimes written as U+, means that a person is living with HIV but the level of the virus is so low that we can't detect it in their blood. Generally, they’ve been taking treatment for 6 months. This stops HIV from making copies of itself, allowing the immune system to remove the virus. And because so much HIV is removed from their body, a person with an undetectable viral load still has HIV but can’t pass it on.

What is AIDS?

HIV is not the same as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the most advanced stage of living with HIV without treatment. It's very rare in Australia, occurring only when the immune system is very weak. When a person starts taking medicine for HIV early, they will live a long and healthy life, not develop AIDS, and not pass on HIV.

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ABOUT HIV TESTING

PrEP & PEP

What is PrEP (medicine that prevents HIV)?

PrEP is short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It's a medicine you can take every day to prevent HIV. It works the same way as HIV treatment: by stopping HIV from making copies of itself. And when HIV can’t do this, it can prevent it from setting up in your body. PrEP is a very effective way to protect yourself from HIV. To get it, you need to get a prescription from your doctor or a sexual health clinic and then buy it from a pharmacy. Many online services like SISTR and PrepHealth also offer bulk-billed PrEP prescriptions with Medicare. With a Medicare card, it costs about $25 each month, and if you also have a concession card, it only costs less than $8 per month.

How do I get PrEP without a Medicare card?

If you don’t have a Medicare card, you can still access PrEP. If you live in Brisbane on the north side of the river (i.e., in the Metro North health service catchment), the best place to go for free is Metro North Sexual Health and HIV Service (phone: (07) 3837 5611). They are a totally free service and their website can be found here.

If you live in Brisbane on the south side of the river, and you have never taken PrEP before, you can book in with RAPID's Nurse Practitioner to start PrEP. This will be totally free. Unfortunately, for ongoing PrEP appointments, you will need to pay. This can be with a GP or you can access PrEP online through a service like PrEPConnect.

If you live outside Brisbane, your local public sexual health service may be able to see you to prescribe PrEP for free - find your nearest one and give them a call to ask.

What is PEP (medicine that can protect you after sex)?

PEP is short for post-exposure prophylaxis. It's a medicine that you take to prevent HIV after potentially encountering the virus. PEP works the same way as PrEP and HIV medicines: by stopping HIV from making copies of itself. And when HIV can’t do this, it can prevent it from setting up in your body. PEP only works if started within 72 hours after sex or sharing injecting equipment. And sooner rather than later is recommended – ideally, within 24 hours.

Only special doctors and nurses can give out PEP. The RAPID Nurse Practitioner can provide PEP - call us to make an appointment. You can also get PEP from public hospital emergency departments, which is a good option if you need PEP over the weekend or outside business hours. More information on what PEP is and how it works can be found here.