What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the human immune system and weakens its ability to fight infection and disease.
Early treatment of HIV keeps the immune system strong and prevents illness. Effective HIV treatment prevents HIV being passed onto others.
Untreated HIV can lead to a number of serious conditions when the immune system is severely damaged.
How common is HIV?
Over 7,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV in Ireland.It is estimated that about 10% of those living with HIV in Ireland don't yet know they have HIV, because they have either never had a HIV test, or they got HIV since their last test.
Since 2015, around 500 people are testing positive for HIV in Ireland every year. Of these, around 40% are people who had a previous HIV diagnosis abroad.
Around half of the new cases of HIV in Ireland are among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (gbMSM), the other half being mostly heterosexual men and women, and people who inject drug.
How do I get HIV?
- Having sex without a condom (vaginal/frontal or anal sex) with someone who is HIV positive and not on effective HIV treatment.
- Very rarely through oral sex without a condom with someone who is HIV positive and not on effective HIV treatment (this risk is extremely low).
- Sharing needles or works (injecting equipment) with someone who is HIV positive and not on effective HIV treatment.
- During pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding from mother to child where the mother is not on effective HIV treatment.
- Contaminated blood products (very unlikely in Ireland as all blood donations are tested).
You cannot get HIV from:
- touching, hugging or kissing
- coughing or sneezing
- sharing a glass, cup, cutlery, or other utensils
- saliva, sweat or urine
- sharing a public toilet
Effective HIV treatment
When a person living with HIV is on treatment and the level of virus (viral load) in the body is so low that it cannot be detected (is 'undetectable'), HIV cannot be transmitted to sexual partners. This is also known as 'undetectable' equals 'untransmittable' (U=U).
What symptoms would I have with HIV?
Some people may get a flu-like illness when they first get HIV. If you have these symptoms after a potential exposure to HIV, you should have a HIV test.
Many people are often unaware that they have HIV because they may not feel sick right away or for many years after getting HIV. If you have been at risk for HIV, it is important to get tested.
Over time, the virus attacks your immune system and you may keep getting infections and other illnesses.
The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test. For those who are at higher risk for HIV, such as gbMSM and people who inject drugs, it is important to get tested for HIV if you have been at risk.
How can I be tested for HIV?
HIV is diagnosed with a blood test. Free home STI/HIV testing is available throught the HSE. for more information and to order a test, visit www.sexualwellbeing.ie/hometesting. All STI clinics offer free HIV testing. Some GPs provide HIV testing or can arrange for you to have a test.
Rapid HIV testing is also available through some community outreach programmes. The test is carried out by taking a finger prick sample of blood and the results are available in minutes.
It is really important if you are having a HIV test to know the window period for the test.
The window period is the time between when you may have been exposed to HIV, and the point when the test will give an accurate result. During the window period a person can be infected with HIV but still have a negative HIV test. Your doctor or nurse will advise you if you need to come back to repeat the HIV test at the end of the window period. Most rapid HIV tests have a window period of 3 months.
If you have had unprotected sex or another risk, it is recommended that you test for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
How soon after exposure should I get a HIV test?
If you think you are at risk, you should get medical advice as soon as possible. You will be tested straight away and may need to repeat the HIV test after the window period. This will depend on how long ago your risk for HIV was. Your doctor or nurse will explain this to you.
How can I protect myself from getting HIV?
You can reduce your risk of getting HIV by:
- using condoms every time you have vaginal or anal sex
- not sharing sex toys, or using condoms if you do
- not sharing needles or other injecting equipment (spoons, filters, water, etc.)
- taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you have been exposed to HIV
- taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you are at substantial risk
- getting tested and knowing your HIV status
What is post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)?
PEP is a course of medication that you need to start up to 72 hours (3 days and nights) after you have been exposed to HIV, such as through condomless sex, sharing needles or pricking yourself with an infected needle. PEP reduces the chance of you becoming HIV positive in these circumstances.
If you think you have been at risk of getting HIV you should go to your nearest STI/GUM clinic or Hospital Emergency Department (outside of clinic hours) as soon as possible to see if you need to go on PEP. PEP is available for free but there may be a charge for attending the emergency department. For more information on PEP and where to access PEP visit https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/need-urgent-information-and-care-/post-exposure-prophylaxis/
For more information on PEP:
What is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)?
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is taken by HIV negative people before having sex (pre-exposure) and after sex, to prevent HIV (this is called prophylaxis).
PrEP has been shown in many studies to be safe and highly effective at preventing HIV. When taken correctly PrEP has been found to be about 99% effective.
PrEP is the newest HIV prevention tool available and is best used in combination with other HIV prevention measures.
PrEP is available through the HSE free of charge to those who are considered to be at substantial risk of contracting HIV through sex.
For further information on HIV PrEP in Ireland and how to access PrEP, visit www.sexualwellbeing.ie/prepor see the patient information leaflet in English.
Getting tested and knowing your HIV status
Knowing your HIV status allows you to get the information you need to keep you and your partner (or partners) healthy.
- Having a HIV test and knowing that you do not have HIV can encourage you to have safer sex and stay HIV negative.
- If you test positive for HIV you can get the essential treatment and care to live a healthy life and prevent transmission to your partner (or partners).
What about my partner?
If you test positive for HIV, your current partner (or partners) will also need to be tested.
Some of your previous partners may also need to be tested. You can discuss this further with your doctor or nurse at the HIV clinic.
Can HIV be treated?
Yes, HIV can be treated and managed effectively with medications.
If you test positive for HIV, you will be referred to a specialist HIV clinic, and your doctor and nurse will explain the treatment options to you.
HIV treatment stops HIV reproducing in the body. When taken properly the medication enables most people with HIV live a long and healthy life.
When taken properly, HIV treatment also reduces the chance of a person living with HIV passing HIV on to someone else. When a person living with HIV takes their treatment properly, so that they achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load, there is effectively no risk that HIV can passed on to their sexual partners
The earlier you are diagnosed and can start on treatment, the better.
At present there is no cure for HIV which means that treatment is lifelong.
For further information on HIV treatment for people living with HIV in Ireland, see the patient information leaflet: Antiretroviral Therapy for People Living with HIV in Ireland on sexualwellbeing.ie/HIV
HIV testing in pregnancy
Screening pregnant women for HIV is a routine part of care in pregnancy and is usually done during the first antenatal visit.
If a pregnant woman tests positive for HIV during pregnancy, she is immediately referred to a specialist HIV service where a management plan is developed to minimise the risk of the baby being infected with HIV. This includes taking anti-HIV medication, monitoring the response to medication and making a plan for delivery.
In Ireland, when the management plan is in place, the chance of a baby being infected with HIV is less than 1 in 1000.
Download the HIV leaflet here.
