Q and A

Question

How long can someone live with HIV?

How long can a man live with HIV if he was around 18 years old and was healthy when he was infected, both with and without medication?

Answer

Modern HIV drugs mean that life expectancy is now similar for HIV positive people to the general population.

This is based on being diagnosed early and having access to treatment.

The wide range of factors related to life expectancy include: where you live, your income, access to health care, lifestyle (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, exercise and diet) and other infections like hepatitis, genetics and chance – good or bad luck.

Several large studies have been published showing that life expectancy for HIV positive people is very good, and near to an HIV negative person.

Without treatment, HIV will slowly progress in nearly everyone. This speed that HIV progresses varies from a few years to more than 20 years.

Note: this answer was updated in January 2018 from a question posted in August 2008..

273 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Berrity, what additional information do you need?

  2. Berrity

    More information needed

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Siva, yes this is possible. Are you taking ART? and do you know your viral load? When on treatment with a viral load below 200/undetectable there is no risk of transmission via sex. This is called U=U and is explained here: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/

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