Good medical care is important after you've been diagnosed as HIV-positive. HIV treatment supports your health and maintains your quality of life. What's more, effective therapy prevents HIV being passed on to your sexual partner.
An HIV-positive diagnosis does not mean that you are already suffering from AIDS, or that you are certain to develop it. It does mean, however, that you need to take action to protect your own health and the health of your partner.
HIV attacks the immune system and weakens it over a long period of time. As a result, the immune system is no longer able to fulfil its function – defending against disease-causing pathogens.
HIV treatment promotes health and supports quality of life, which is why it is important to start the treatment promptly and not wait too long. Effective treatment also prevents the transmission of HIV to sexual partners.
People with HIV are no longer infectious if they follow their therapy as prescribed, and their viral load is below the detectable threshold. This means that they can have unprotected sex, without worrying that they will infect their partner.
Regular medical check-ups are important for people with HIV. Their purpose is to assess the state of health, the progress of the HIV infection and the effectiveness of the treatment.
If HIV-positive people become infected with another sexually transmitted infection, this will often follow a worse clinical course and be more difficult to treat than in HIV-negative people. Furthermore the risk of HIV transmission is markedly higher.
Physical and mental well-being go hand in hand. Anyone who is HIV-positive should therefore take care of their mental health.
