HIV treatment works, and today, HIV is widely understood to be medically manageable. People that are HIV positive are living long, healthy lives, and having the sex they want to be having!

In the past few decades, HIV treatment has come a long way. For some folks, treatment is as simple as one pill, taken once a day. HIV treatment used to come with a lot of side effects, but the medications have greatly improved. After the first few weeks on treatment, most people do not experience side effects.

If you are diagnosed with HIV, it’s important to connect to care as soon as possible. Early treatment minimizes the effects of HIV on your physical health, and will put you on a path towards becoming “undetectable”—which means your medications are working, and you can’t pass on the virus to sexual partners!

There are high-quality HIV care clinics in Nova Scotia that are skilled at treating HIV. Your local HIV/AIDS service organization (like us, at HEAL NS!) can support you with finding a doctor, getting connected to treatment, and addressing other important aspects of your health and wellness.

Always remember that decisions about your HIV treatment and care are ultimately up to you. So if you’re unhappy with how your medications are making you feel, speak to your doctor or healthcare provider.

This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
You can learn more about where we got this information from at: NS Health, Ready to Know, NS Health

*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references