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.
