World AIDS Day is a global awareness day held every year on 1st December, uniting people in the fight against HIV and AIDS. It is a day to remember those who we have lost, as well as recognising the huge progress made when it comes to treatment of HIV.
It’s also a good chance to encourage people to test for HIV regularly and remind people of ways we can reduce the chance of getting HIV, or passing it on.
What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and disease.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name for a collection of serious illnesses caused by the HIV virus. AIDS is now often called late-stage or advanced HIV. In the UK, most people being treated for HIV do not develop late-stage HIV.
Early diagnosis is key to living a healthy life with HIV, and the only way to know if you have HIV is get tested.
How can I test for HIV?
There are different ways you can test for HIV:
You can order a free STI testing kit online via our website.
You can visit one of our clinics.
We also have services and clinics for Diverse Communities and for the LGBTQ+ community too, so you can access testing in an affirming and confidential space.
Testing will either be done by a finger prick test or blood sample, depending on where you test.
What happens if my test comes back positive?
If your test comes back positive, our team will invite you in for a discussion about your results and the next steps, before referring you into Leicester’s HIV Treatment and Care service at Leicester Royal Infirmary. The friendly team there will provide you with free and confidential HIV treatment and care, to help you live a fulfilling and healthy life whilst effectively managing your condition. It’s generally preferred that everyone diagnosed with HIV starts treatment straight away after being diagnosed, however the team will carefully consider your lifestyle, preferences and concerns. They will advise you accordingly regarding treatment options and when to start treatment based on a mutually agreed plan between yourself and the team.
How do I reduce my chances of getting HIV?
You can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by:
- Testing regularly for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Wearing condoms when having sex, as they are one of the best ways to prevent HIV and many other STIs. For anal sex, use water-based or silicone-based lube to reduce the risk of the condom tearing.
- Using HIV prevention medicines such as PrEP
- Becoming undetectable through treatment, if you have HIV (this means you cannot pass the virus on – read more about this here)
Read more about preventing HIV, including PrEP, on our HIV Prevention webpage.