LIVING WITH HIV

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Being diagnosed with HIV can feel shocking or upsetting, leaving you with a lot of questions.[1] However, there is effective HIV treatment available, which means you can now live a long and healthy life with HIV. Having HIV treatment also reduces your chances of transmitting the virus to others.[2]

What to do after gettIng dIagnosed

After being newly diagnosed with HIV, it is important to see a healthcare provider to receive medical care and begin HIV treatment as soon as possible.[2,3] HIV treatment, which is called antiretroviral therapy (ART), is recommended for everyone living with HIV, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, regardless of how long you’ve had HIV or how healthy you feel.[2,3]

ART prevents HIV from multiplying and spreading in the body. It can reduce the amount of HIV—called the viral load—to levels so low that it cannot be detected by HIV tests. This is known as an undetectable viral load. Achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load means that there is very little chance of transmitting HIV through unprotected anal or vaginal penetrative sex. This concept is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). With an undetectable viral load, the chances of HIV transmission through other means are greatly reduced.[2,3]

People living with HIV who begin ART earlier on tend to have better long-term health and survival compared to those who delay starting treatment, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a decreased risk of catching opportunistic infections (OIs).[2,4] A study have found that people who take ART early (when their CD4 cell count is above 500 cells/mm3) have a 57% reduced risk of AIDS and serious non-AIDS health outcomes.[2,4]

How to find an HIV healthcare provider 

Your HIV testing site or HIV specialist clinic will often refer you to an HIV healthcare provider following your diagnosis, if not, you can ask to be referred. There are also online resources available to help you find HIV healthcare providers near your location.[5,6]

During your first visit to your healthcare provider, they will run some important tests that will determine your stage of HIV, selection of ART, and your overall health. These tests include:[7,8]

CD4 count

CD4 cells help defend the body against infections

Viral load

shows the amount of HIV in the blood

Drug resistance test

shows which, if any, HIV medicines will not be effective against a person’s type of HIV

Other tests

including a complete blood count, liver function tests, and screenings for health conditions such as hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

ART is a lifelong treatment, and your healthcare provider will explain the importance of taking it as prescribed—known as adherence—which ensures it is most effective in controlling HIV.[8,9]

Your first visit to your healthcare provider is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your HIV diagnosis and how to manage your health and lifestyle. While the information they provide may feel overwhelming and hard to remember, there are online resources available with up-to-date information on HIV that you can refer to whenever needed.[10]

Before leaving your healthcare provider, be sure to discuss your follow-up appointments and how frequently they should be scheduled.

How to prevent transmitting HIV to others

At your first visit with your healthcare provider, they will inform you of the ways to prevent transmitting HIV to other people.[7] This includes effective treatment, which leads to an undetectable viral load. With an undetectable viral load, the chance of transmitting HIV to your sexual partners is greatly reduced. Most people living with HIV who begin treatment can typically achieve an undetectable viral load within six months of starting ART.[2]

Here are additional ways to prevent HIV transmission:[11,12]

  • Always use condoms during anal and vaginal penetrative sex.
  • Never share needles, syringes, or other drug-injecting equipment.
  • Your sexual partners can use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is a highly effective medication for HIV-negative individuals to prevent HIV.
  • You can use post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If you think you could have been exposed to HIV, PEP is an HIV medicine that can be taken within 72 hours after possible exposure.

How to cope wIth your HIV dIagnosIs

Hearing of your HIV diagnosis can be challenging, and you may feel a range of emotions including shock, denial, anger, depression, fear, or numbness.[1,8,10] You may also blame yourself or others and start replaying your past sexual behaviour. These feelings or reactions are normal and understandable.[8,13]

Remember, you are not alone. There are various ways to improve your mental wellbeing and come to terms with your diagnosis. You can share how you feel with your healthcare provider, nurse, HIV counsellor, or even with your loved ones if you feel comfortable. HIV professionals can guide you toward specific support options, including therapy, medication, mental health services, or peer support groups if needed.[8,13]

Joining a local or virtual peer support group can be beneficial, allowing you to hear from others living with HIV, form supportive connections, and discover coping strategies. Additionally, if you ever feel overwhelmed and need immediate support, HIV organisation helplines are available to call.[13,14]

Remember, an HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence, nor does it mean you have to stop enjoying life. With proper treatment, many people living with HIV go on to lead normal, long, and fulfilling lives.[2]

Do you need to tell people?

Choosing to disclose your HIV status is a personal decision, and it's important to prioritise your comfort. Not everyone needs to know, and it's okay to share your status only with those you trust.[2,15] However, the specialist clinic you attend will ask for contact names and details of your most recent sexual partners so that they can approach them for testing, and therefore provide treatment for them also, if required.

Informing your current or past sexual partners about your HIV status is important, as it allows them to get tested for HIV as well.[2]

Disclosing your HIV status can also be beneficial, as it may provide you with greater social support from friends and family while relieving emotional burdens.[2,15] However, it is natural to feel anxious about potential stigma, discrimination, or rejection.[8,15]

Seeking advice from a healthcare provider, counsellor, or helpline adviser can be helpful. They can guide you on important factors to consider before disclosure, including whom to tell, how to approach the conversation, and any legal implications.[2,8,16]

In many countries, healthcare professionals at your clinic are bound by confidentiality and cannot disclose your HIV status unless you provide consent.[16] However, enforcement of these regulations may be weaker in some countries with less robust healthcare privacy laws, especially in rural and community settings where HIV stigma may be high.[17,18]

BeIng dIagnosed durIng pregnancy 

Depending on your country, most pregnant individuals will be offered HIV tests as part of their routine care.[19] It can be especially challenging for you and your partner to hear of your diagnosis during this time, as you may also be concerned about the health of your baby.[20]

Although HIV can be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding, taking ART during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk. Although there are some risks associated with pregnancy and HIV, with proper care and treatment, it is possible to have a healthy pregnancy and give birth to an HIV-negative baby.[20,21]

Speak to your healthcare provider about the necessary measures to support you and your baby’s wellbeing throughout pregnancy.

Abbreviations:

ART, antiretroviral therapy; PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis; STI, sexually transmitted infection.

References:

  1. Campbell CK. Emotions and emotion work before, during and after HIV disclosure among Black gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Sociology of Health & Illness. 2021;43(8). doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13372 
  2. HIV.gov. Living with HIV. 2025. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/just-diagnosed-whats-next/living-with-hiv [Accessed: January 2025]
  3. NIH. HIV Treatment: The Basics. 2025. Available from: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-treatment-basics [Accessed: January 2025]
  4. HIV.gov. Early HIV Diagnosis and Treatment Important for Better Long-term Health Outcomes. 2022. Available from:https://www.hiv.gov/blog/early-hiv-diagnosis-treatment-important-better-long-term-health-outcomes [Accessed: January 2025]
  5. HIV.gov. Locate an HIV Clinic Near You. 2024. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/starting-hiv-care/find-a-provider/locate-a-hiv-care-provider [Accessed: January 2025]
  6. AIDSMAP. Pebody R. Where to get HIV treatment. 2021. Available from: https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/where-get-hiv-treatment [Accessed: January 2025]
  7. HIV.gov. HIV lab tests and results. 2024. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/provider-visits-and-lab-test/lab-tests-and-results [Accessed: January 2025]
  8. NIH.gov. Justiz AA, Gulick PG. HIV and AIDS Syndrome. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534860/ [Accessed: January 2025]
  9. Madundo K, Knettel BA, Knippler ET, et al. Prevalence, severity, and associated factors of depression in newly diagnosed people living with HIV in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04496-9 
  10. NHS. HIV and AIDS - Coping with a positive HIV test. 2021. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/coping-with-a-positive-hiv-test/ [Accessed: January 2025]
  11. HIV.gov. Preventing Sexual Transmission of HIV. 2025. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/reducing-sexual-risk/preventing-sexual-transmission-of-hiv [Accessed: January 2025]
  12. HIV.gov. Substance Use and HIV Risk. 2024. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/reducing-risk-from-alcohol-and-drug-use/substance-use-and-hiv-risk [Accessed: January 2025]
  13. Terrence Higgins Trust. Newly diagnosed. 2022. Available from: https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv/being-diagnosed-hiv/newly-diagnosed [Accessed: January 2025]
  14. Bateganya MH, Amanyeiwe U, Roxo U, et al. Impact of Support Groups for People Living With HIV on Clinical Outcomes. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2015;68:S368-S374. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/qai.0000000000000519 
  15. Healthtalk. Telling people about being HIV-positive. 2017. Available from: https://healthtalk.org/experiences/hiv/telling-people-about-being-hiv/ [Accessed: January 2025]
  16. AIDSMAP. Shibemba M. The law on confidentiality and HIV status. 2022. Available from: https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/law-confidentiality-and-hiv-status [Accessed: January 2025]
  17. University of Washington: Department of Global Health. Health Information Privacy & HIV/AIDS in Uganda. 2015. Available from: https://globalhealth.washington.edu/file/3062/download [Accessed: March 2025]
  18. Dapaah JM, Senah KA. HIV/AIDS clients, privacy and confidentiality; the case of two health centres in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. BMC Med Ethics. 2016 Jul 16;17(1):41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-016-0123-3 
  19. NHS. Screening for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis. 2024. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-for-hepatitis-b-hiv-and-syphilis [Accessed February 2025]
  20. Oshosen M, Knettel BA, Knippler E, et al. “She Just Told Me Not To Cry”: A Qualitative Study of Experiences of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Tanzania. AIDS and Behavior. 2020;25(1):104-112. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02946-7 
  21. Terrence Higgins Trust. Preventing transmission during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. 2024. Available from: https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv/living-well-hiv/parenthood/preventing-vertical-transmission [Accessed: January 2025]

NP-GBL-HVX-COCO-250019 August 2025

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the GSK Reporting Tool link https://gsk.public.reportum.com/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

If you are from outside the UK, you can report adverse events to GSK/ ViiV by selecting your region and market, here.