As with any long-term illness, it's important to see your provider regularly and take your medication as directed.
You should also try to:
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Get enough sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Reduce stress.
Stay up to date with routine vaccines.
- Vaccines for pneumonia, meningitis, hepatitis A and B, and HPV are especially important.
- Read more about vaccines for people with HIV here.
Get screened regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Get tested at least once a year, more often if you have new sexual partners or are in a nonmonogamous relationship.
- If you have oral or anal sex, find a local clinic here.
Also be sure to:
- Tell other medical providers about your HIV diagnosis and medications.
- Let your provider know if you're planning to get pregnant, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding. This is very important, as your HIV treatment may need to be adjusted during pregnancy.
There's no risk of passing HIV through casual contact with friends and family (hugging, kissing, sharing food and utensils, etc.).
You can also have a full and active sex life. Just be sure to:
- Tell your sexual partners about your diagnosis.
- Use condoms each time you have sex, especially with new or nonmonogamous partners.
Once your viral load has been undetectable for 6 months, you cannot transmit HIV through sex.
If you use IV drugs or could expose people to your blood in other ways, let your provider know. You can pass on HIV, even if you have an undetectable viral load.
With care, you can have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
If you want to get pregnant or become pregnant, tell your HIV provider about your pregnancy and your OB provider about your HIV. That way both providers can help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
It's important to continue your HIV treatment during pregnancy.
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps keep you healthy and lowers the chance of passing HIV to your baby.
- Ask your HIV provider if your current medicine is safe to take during pregnancy.
Go to all your prenatal appointments to monitor your health and your baby’s. After birth, your baby will be tested for HIV and may get medicine to protect them. Do not breastfeed, as HIV can pass through breast milk.
It's common to feel anxious, depressed, or angry after being diagnosed. If you have thoughts about hurting yourself or others, please call or text 988 (or go to 988lifeline.org)
If you feel unsafe because of this diagnosis or are in a relationship where you feel unsafe, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233; thehotline.org)
Follow these simple steps to keep yourself healthy and avoid passing HIV to others.
