HIV
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that attacks, infects, and destroys cells of the immune system and weakens the immune system. HIV is found in the blood and some other body fluids of an infected person, including semen, vaginal and anal fluids, and breast milk. In the UK, the most common way of contracting HIV is through unprotected anal or vaginal sex with a person infected with HIV. Other ways of contracting HIV are mainly associated with drug use, i.e., sharing of needles, syringes, or other injecting equipment, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, at birth or whilst breastfeeding.
Some people may experience a short flu-like illness after they contract HIV while others experience no symptoms for many years. If left untreated, HIV can progress to late stage or advanced HIV where a person is more at risk of serious AIDS-defining illnesses.
With early diagnosis and effective treatment, people living with HIV can go on to live long, healthy lives. Treatment for HIV is available on the NHS and is called anti-retroviral therapy (ART). If started early, ART is a highly effective treatment that reduces the amount of virus in a person’s blood to an undetectable level. A person who is on effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV to others.
Find out more about HIV on the NHS website
Rachel and Garry tell their stories about living with HIV:
Testing
Umbrella offer free self-sampling HIV testing kits (so you can get tested from home) and free HIV testing in all their clinics. Change, Grow, Live and some GPs also offer HIV testing. Find out more and order a testing kit or book a test. A range of HIV testing services can also be accessed through Terrence Higgins Trust.
The Hep C trust team also test in community settings for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C using dry blood spot tests. The Birmingham team can be accessed via the national helpline or calling 02070896221.
David Rowlands, a Birmingham resident, describes his experience of living with HIV and hepatitis C and why it is so important to get tested:
Prevention
A condom is the most effective form of protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections – it can be used for vaginal and anal sex, and for oral sex performed on men. Free condoms are available through the Umbrella sexual health service in Birmingham.
Injecting drugs can also expose individuals to HIV and other blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis C. It's important not to share needles, syringes, injecting equipment such as spoons and swabs, or the actual drugs or liquids used to dilute them. Birmingham offers a needle exchange programme which can be accessed via an extensive network of almost 100 pharmacy-based and 6 specialist needle exchanges across Birmingham. Read about the needle exchange programme.
If you are HIV-negative, you may be able to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine to reduce your risk of getting the virus. PrEP is available from Umbrella sexual health services to people who are at high risk of infection. If you have had sex with someone who may be HIV positive, you can reduce chances of HIV infection by taking Post-Exposure Prophylaxis after sexual exposure (PEPSE) within 72 hours of exposure to the virus. To get PEPSE visit Umbrella’s Whittall Street Clinic (Whittall Street, Birmingham, B4 6DH) (if open) or your nearest A&E department as soon as possible after potential exposure.
Page last updated: 30 January 2023
