FAQs on HIV
This section answers some Frequently Asked Questions about HIV infection and AIDS.
- What is HIV/AIDS?
- How do you treat HIV?
- How do people become infected with HIV?
- What other ways can people get HIV?
- Can I get HIV from oral sex?
- How can you prevent HIV transmission?
- What to do if you think you’ve been in contact with HIV
- Where can I get tested?
- I've just found out that I have HIV
- someone I know has HIV
If you would like to speak with someone about HIV, please contact your local AIDS Council of PLHIV organisation. Contact details for all state and territory AIDS Councils and PLHIV organisations are on our Links page.
More useful info at:
What is HIV/AIDS?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, which is the body’s defence against disease.
If a person’s immune system is severely damaged by the virus, they will develop the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This means they are vulnerable to infections and illnesses that their body could normally fight off.
How do you treat HIV?
There are now effective treatments available for HIV that can stop the infection developing into AIDS. HIV is treated using a combination of antiretroviral drugs. This is sometimes called "combination therapy" or "Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART). People with HIV may also take medications that will stop them getting some serious illnesses that commonly affect people with damaged immune systems
For more information see the Treatments section on this website or visit the NAPWA Treataware Project website.
How do people become infected with HIV?
HIV must be present in body fluids in large quantities to be infectious. HIV is only in such large quantities in blood, semen, pre-ejaculatory fluid ("pre-cum"), anal mucus, vaginal secretions and breast milk of an HIV positive person. A person can only become infected with HIV if one of these body fluids containing HIV passes into their blood stream. The main ways in which this happens are:
- Unprotected sex (insertive anal or vaginal sex without condoms)
- Sharing needles/syringes
See also:
More information about Safe sex and Safe injecting.
Anal sex and risk reduction for more information about anal sex.
What other ways can people get HIV?
Some babies become infected during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. For information about transmission of HIV from mother to baby, look in the section for Mother to Child Transmission on this website.
A small number of people working in healthcare have become HIV positive through their exposure to body fluids, for example through “needlestick” injuries, where their skin has been pierced by a needle containing HIV infected blood.
People can also acquire HIV through infected blood products used to treat haemophilia or for transfusions. However since 1985 the Australian blood supply has been screened for infectious diseases and this form of transmission is no longer considered a risk in this country.
Can I get HIV from oral sex?
Oral sex is a very low risk activity for getting or passing on HIV. Anal or vaginal sex without condoms remains the highest risk sexual activity for transmitting HIV. There is not enough evidence to specify the exact risk of HIV transmission during one episode of oral sex. The risk increases if there are cuts or sores in the mouth, allowing HIV to enter a person’s bloodstream.
For more information check out the page on Oral sex.
How can you prevent HIV transmission?
HIV is not transmitted through day-to-day contact such as sharing cups and cutlery.
HIV transmission can be prevented by:
- practising safe sex (use condoms) and safe injecting drug use (never share needles)
- taking HIV drugs and other precautions during pregnancy and childbirth
Research into microbicides and vaccines is not yet at a stage where these are effective in stopping the transmission of HIV, however there is now mounting evidence that the use of antiretroviral treatments by HIV-negative people prior to being exposed to HIV—known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may provide some protection from infection.
For further information about microbicides and vaccines, see the website of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC).
What to do if you think you’ve been in contact with HIV
If you think you have been exposed to HIV you can have a test that will show if you have been infected. This test detects antibodies to HIV. These antibodies will not show up in your blood for a period of between 2 and 6 weeks after you have been infected.
When having the antibody test, you should receive some counselling or discussion both before you take the test and when you receive your test results so that you are fully informed about the test, and about the implications of testing HIV positive, before you take the test.
In all Australian states and territories post exposure prophylaxis (known as ‘PEP’) is available to people who have recently been exposed to HIV. PEP is treatment with HIV drugs that has been shown in some cases to prevent HIV becoming established in the body. PEP must be started within 72 hours of exposure.
If you would like to speak with someone about PEP, or find out where you can be tested for HIV, please contact your local AIDS Council or visit the Get PEP website.
Where can I get tested?
You can get an HIV antibody test at any General Medical Practice (GP) or sexual health centre in Australia.
To find the location of your closest sexual health clinic, please visit The Drama Downunder website.
The Australasian Society of HIV Medicine (ASHM) has also produced a Directory of HIV, Hepatitis C and related services that can help you find services in your area that provide confidential HIV testing with pre-and post-test discussion.
I've just found out I have HIV
You may be feeling shocked or scared right now, but HIV is no longer a death sentence in countries like Australia. Effective treatments are available and there are support services available in all states and territories. Check out the pages for recently diagnosed people in the Living with HIV section of this website.
Someone I know has HIV
If you are a partner, family member and friend of a person who is HIV positive, you probably have questions and concerns that aren't covered by these FAQs. The Partners, Family and Friends page on this website provides basic information about HIV/AIDS and tips on how to care for and support a person with HIV.
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