Wellness

Treatment

While there is no cure currently for HIV, you can control the infection through antiretroviral therapy as prescribed by a healthcare provider. In fact, most people can get the virus under control within 6 months. All people living with HIV should take HIV treatment, no matter how long they’ve had HIV or how healthy they are. Delaying treatment can cause HIV to harm your immune system, increase your risk of transmitting HIV to partners, getting sick, and allowing the disease to progress.

Antiretroviral therapy can take the form of pills and injections. Pills are often recommended for people starting their treatment, while injections are often used for people who have had an undetectable viral load for at least 3 months. Regular treatment can reduce the virus count, rendering the viral load undetectable—and therefore untransmissable.

People living with HIV are at a higher risk for cancer; accordingly, regular HPV (human papillomavirus) screenings are recommended to detect early signs of cervical cancer.

If you do not have HIV, you should consider PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medication if you have a sexual partner with HIV, do not use a condom consistently, or have been diagnosed with an STI within the past 6 months. PrEP can greatly reduce your chances of getting HIV and is one of the most effective prevention steps you can take today.

Today, HIV can be controlled by regularly taking medications, receiving vaccines, getting regular clinical screenings, and regular lab draws. And remember, you don’t have to do this alone! If you’d like our clinical or case management team to guide you through all of your available options, call us now at 833-444-8435.