At one time, testing positive for HIV was tragic news. It essentially meant that your life, or at least your life as you knew it, was over. You could no longer be intimate with your partner or partners, and you knew your days were numbered. Recent advancements in HIV treatment have made it more manageable than in past years. There’s now a possibility of being undetectable, which means you will not spread the disease to others, and the disease won’t progress into AIDS. Here’s a guide to the advancements in HIV prevention methods and treatment.
ART Therapy for HIV
Clinical trials have resulted in great strides being made in the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) which have greatly improved the quality of life for those living with HIV while making it possible to extend life expectancies due to successful management of the virus. ART is a combination of targeted drugs that team together to slow down the replication of the virus. In turn, this provides time for the body’s immune system to recover and regroup so that it can once again work well enough to fend off other infections. Keeping healthy from other infections allows for the body to have a positive effect by slowing progression of HIV.
PrEP Treatments for HIV
Pharmaceutical companies have recently introduced PrEP medications (pre-exposure prophylaxis meds) that can greatly reduce the risk of HIV transmission for those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus. To be placed on a PrEP regimen, you must test negative for HIV first.
A new medication, cabotegravir was just approved by the FDA to be used as a PrEP as well. Some PrEP medications are delivered via injection and others orally. The true success comes from adherence to the health care providers prescribed plan. Remember that PrEP medications don’t prevent the spread of other types of sexually transmitted diseases, so it’s strongly recommended to use protection and get tested regularly. Patients who are prescribed PrEP medications should continue to be tested for HIV to make sure they remain HIV free.
Early Intervention Still Needed
Getting tested for HIV is critical to treatment of the disease. Early detection provides the opportunity for early intervention and the development of a treatment which will greatly improve outcomes for those testing positive. People who know they have HIV and are put on a treatment plan can take effective steps to protect their partners from contracting the virus.
You can purchase an HIV self-test kit from a drug store or online. It’s important to note that self-test kits are not 100% accurate and the definitive diagnosis should be made by a healthcare provider or testing facility. Testing is usually done via a mouth swab or a blood draw. HIV testing is done confidentially and only you will receive the results.
As a result of recent advances, a diagnosis of HIV is no longer a death sentence. Disease progression to AIDS is not inevitable. With the appropriate early diagnosis, treatment and precautions, people living with HIV can expect to enjoy long and healthy lives.
The doctors and staff at Infections Managed are here to help. If you’re at high risk for contracting HIV, or suspect you may have already been infected, the time to call is now. Schedule an appointment by calling us at 954-776-9992. Your testing will be done in the strictest confidence and our support system is second-to-none.