HIV & AIDS
At the moment there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, so once someone is diagnosed as having HIV it will stay with them for life. However, the treatments for HIV are very good and continuously improving, so the outlook for people with HIV is very positive now.
Individuals who suspect they may have the HIV virus are seen by specialist HIV consultants and an experienced team consisting of pharmacists, social workers, health advisors, dieticians and specialist nurses.
Monday - 9am – 12 noon
Tuesday - 1pm – 3.15pm
Wednesday - 9am – 12 noon (an additional afternoon clinic is due to open in June / July)
Thursday – 9am – 12 noon
Friday 9am – 12 noon and 1pm – 3.15pm
HIV can be transmitted by:
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Having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
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Sharing sex toys with someone who has HIV
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From mother to baby during pregnancy or birth or via breast milk
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From blood-to-blood contact such as sharing needles
You cannot get HIV from hugging, kissing, sharing baths or towels, toilet seats, or from sharing cups/plates.
Signs and Symptoms
HIV signs and symptoms are vague and can be symptoms of lots of other illnesses and infections. Some people have a flu-like illness a few weeks after infection, this can include swollen glands, a sore throat or mouth, coating on the tongue, aching joints and a fever.
But many people don’t notice this, or mistake it for the flu.
After this, there’s a long period of time (three to six years or much longer) when you have the virus and may not notice any symptoms but are infectious to other people.
The only real way of knowing if you have HIV is to have a blood test.
It can take up to three months from sexual contact with someone with HIV for it to show up in a blood test, so you may be advised to attend for a retest if you have had a new sexual partner within the last three months. We sometimes call this three months the ‘window period’.
What is the treatment for HIV?
HIV is a life-long condition. But, the earlier we find the infection the better, as we can start monitoring the condition. This means that treatment can be given as soon as it’s needed. It also means we can advise how to prevent the infection from being passed onto other people (safe sex).
HIV treatments have progressed since the 1980’s when many people became very sick and died quickly following diagnosis. The treatments now have fewer side effects and prolong the life of someone with HIV.
Many people will live a relatively normal life with HIV.
If you’re found to have HIV from a blood test taken at Whittall Street Clinic or our other community clinics, we’ll refer you to our specialist HIV unit at Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital.
Here, they’ll take blood tests to assess how much the HIV virus has affected your immune system. From these results the doctor will decide if treatment is needed.
You can help protect yourself against HIV and Aids by using condoms every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex.
