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It can take about 10 years for a person who becomes infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) to develop AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if they do not receive treatment.
Medications are now available in many parts of the world to control HIV and maintain a person’s healthy immune system. While these medications do not cure the virus, they help many people living with HIV to stay healthy.
It is advisable to be tested for HIV if you are at risk of becoming infected with the virus. Early detection and treatment can help a person with HIV to stay healthy and delays the onset of complications, including AIDS.
How HIV is spread
Some of the ways HIV is transmitted include:
- Unprotected anal sex (without a condom) between two males – this activity has a high risk of HIV infection.
- Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment.
- Unprotected anal or vaginal sex between men and women – the incidence of HIV among this group in Australia is still relatively low, but having sex with someone who is from or has had sex in a country where there is a higher incidence of HIV carries an increased risk.
- Blood transfusions and treatment with other blood products – in Australia (between 1980 and May 1985) or in other countries where there are higher rates of HIV.
- Unprotected sex with male or female sex workers – in countries with a high rate of HIV infection or who do not work in licensed brothels.
- Unprotected oral sex (male and female) – this activity has a much lower transmission rate, but infection is theoretically possible.
- From a mother who has HIV to a child – during pregnancy, birth or when breastfeeding. The risk of transmission can be dramatically reduced if the mother takes antiretroviral medication and/or does not breastfeed.
Countries where there is a high rate of HIV infection include South East Asian countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, India, many African countries, the Caribbean, parts of China, Papua New Guinea, Eastern Europe and parts of the USA (such as New York and San Francisco).
An increasing risk of HIV infection
You can become infected with HIV even if you participate in a high risk activity only once. However, the more people you have unprotected sex with or the more times you participate in activities where HIV transmission is possible, the greater your chance of becoming infected with HIV.
A blood test can show if you have HIV
A blood test can detect HIV antibodies and determine if you are infected with the virus. HIV antibodies are produced by the body of a person with HIV. If your blood test shows that antibodies are present, you are ‘HIV positive’. If you have no antibodies in your blood, you are ‘HIV negative’. Testing should be voluntary and only carried out with informed consent, except in exceptional circumstances.
There is a short period where a person may have been infected by HIV but the HIV antibodies can’t be detected. This may require a follow-up test.
Preparing for the HIV antibody test
When you attend for testing, you should receive information, be made aware of your risk and have discussed the possible outcomes of the test. If you do not understand something, ask the doctor or nurse who is ordering your test.
A positive result can lead to feelings of shock, anger, distress and depression. Everybody who is tested should:
- First talk to an experienced medical practitioner, counsellor or nurse so you are prepared for a positive test
- Be offered ongoing counselling if the test is positive
- Be counselled about how to protect sexual partners and others by avoiding activities that could pass on the virus.
If the test is positive
If tests show that you are infected (HIV positive), you will be offered:
- Further tests – to determine how healthy your immune system is. People with HIV usually have regular blood tests to monitor the health of their immune system.
- Antiviral drugs – to manage the HIV infection. When your blood tests indicate that the HIV virus is multiplying in the body more rapidly and affecting your immune system, your doctor will talk to you about taking medications to manage the infection. These medications aim to keep a person living with HIV healthy. They do not cure the virus.
- Counselling – to assist you to understand more about HIV and what this means for you; especially in relation to relationships, pregnancy, career and other long-term plans. Counselling can also help you with making changes to your lifestyle that improve resistance to illness. This may include diet, exercise, stress reduction or stopping smoking or drug use.
Treatments are sometimes needed early in the course of infection, so it is important to have a test to find out whether you have HIV.
If the test is negative
Follow-up counselling can help people at risk to make changes to sexual or drug-taking practices so they can stay HIV negative.
Test results are kept confidential
Under Victorian law, it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone who has HIV. Test results, and the fact that you have been tested at all, are kept confidential.
Where to be tested
A blood sample can be taken by:
- Your doctor
- Doctors and nurses working in sexual health, community health clinics or other medical services.
- The results of the test are usually available within seven days.
Costs of HIV testing
Some private pathology services charge a small fee for HIV testing. People at high risk for HIV will be tested free of charge at sexual health and community health centres. Those considered at higher risk for HIV include:
- Men who have sex with men
- Women who have sex with a man who has sex with other men or with a man who has had sex in a country where there is a higher incidence of HIV
- Men who have sex with a woman who has either had sex in or is from a country where there is a higher incidence of HIV
- Women who have sex with a woman from a country where there is a higher incidence of HIV
- Sex workers who do not work in licensed brothels
- Injecting drug users
- People with other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) – these may increase the risk of acquiring HIV.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre Tel. (03) 9341 6200 or 1800 032 017 or TTY (for the hearing impaired) (03) 9347 8619
- Your local community health centre
- Positive Living Centre Tel. (03) 9525 5866
- People Living with HIV/AIDS Tel. (03) 9865 6772
- Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre Tel. (03) 9865 6700 or 1800 134 840
Things to remember
- Early testing for HIV helps people to stay healthy.
- When you attend for testing, you should receive information, be made aware of your risk and have discussed the possible outcomes of the test. If you do not understand something, ask the doctor or nurse who is ordering your test.
- Consider being tested if you have had unprotected sex or have shared needles.
You might also be interested in:
HIV and AIDS.
HIV and AIDS - infection control in hospitals.
HIV and women - having children.
HIV and women - safe sex.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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