What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a virus that can make it harder for your body to fight off infections and other illnesses.
If someone has HIV and doesn’t get treatment, it can lead to a serious health problem called AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). But the good news is — HIV can be treated, and people with HIV can live long, healthy lives.
How Do You Get HIV?
HIV spreads through certain body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It can be passed:
- During sex without protection
- By sharing needles or syringes
- From mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding
- Through blood transfusions (although this is very rare in the U.S.)
You cannot get HIV from hugging, shaking hands, using the same toilet, or sharing food.
What Happens if You Have HIV?
Once HIV is in your body, it starts to attack your immune system. This is the part of your body that helps fight off sickness. If HIV isn’t treated, it can cause your immune system to get weaker over time. That’s when HIV can turn into AIDS.
But there’s hope. With the right medicine, called antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV can stay healthy and live full lives. Treatment also helps protect others — if you take your medicine every day and your virus level is so low it can’t be found in a test (called undetectable), you can’t pass it to someone else through sex.
Why Should You Care?
- Anyone can get HIV, but you can take steps to protect yourself.
- Knowing your status by getting tested is the first step.
- Treatment works and helps people with HIV live long, healthy lives.
Learn The Basics
Living Well with HIV: Staying in Care Matters
Taking your HIV meds every day and staying in care helps you live a long, healthy life. Learn how to stay on track with support from The Project.
Tested Positive for HIV — What Happens Next?
Testing positive for HIV can feel scary, but treatment works. Learn how HIV medicine helps you live a long, healthy life.
Getting Tested for HIV: What You Need to Know
Learn why getting tested for HIV matters, what the test is like, and where you can go. Testing is quick, easy, and free at many places.
What to Expect at Your First HIV Care Visit
What to Expect at Your First HIV Care Visit Starting HIV care is an important step in managing your health and living well with HIV. At The Project at Primary Health Care, we’re here to make your first visit as comfortable and informative as possible. Here’s what you...
How to Get PrEP at the Project of Primary Health Care
Thinking about PrEP? Want to know how to get on PrEP? Here are some basic information you’ll need.
Rapid Start PrEP
Last month, the Prevention and Clinical teams at the Project launched “Rapid Start PrEP,” an easy way to start your journey to preventing HIV. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication treatment that when taken as directed can prevent HIV by about 99%. It is the single most effective intervention for preventing HIV for people who are HIV-negative.
Common questions about getting tested for HIV/STIs
Getting tested for HIV and other STIs can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. At The Project we do everything we can to help you feel comfortable and relaxed. Below we have compiled the answers to many of the questions people come to us with before or after their...
Condom Myths and Facts
When looking up information about sex and condoms it can be hard to know what is true, and what is just an urban legend. In honor of National Condom Week, we put on our Mythbusters hats and debunked some condom myths. Condom Myth #1: Size doesn't matter FACT: Using...
Testing 101
Have you been thinking about getting tested for HIV and/or other STI’s but don’t know what to expect? Maybe it’s been awhile and you’re getting cold feet. That’s ok. Here at the Project we are here to help you feel comfortable and relaxed. Here are just a few insights into how our testing appointments work.