Question
What are the most asked questions?
10 October 2016. Related: All topics.
Answer
About half of all the questions to i-Base are covered by the questions below.
Please check this page before asking a question. If your question is covered by the topics below, we forward you to these answers first.
Top questions
- Why doesn’t i-Base answer questions on HIV testing and transmission?
Important to answer this first. We do care but we also have limited resources. Instead we have published lots of online resources that already answer questions on testing and risk. This answer explains this and includes links. - Can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
Short answer – only ARVs can increase your CD4 count and keep them high. Not vitamins, not supplements, not so-called “immune-boosters” which are scams, not diet. Read the full answer for details. - What can make efavirenz (Atripla/Tribuss etc) easier – or should I change?
Side effects with efavirenz can be difficult. Efavirenz is one of the drugs in Atripla and the many generic versions that include Atenef, Atreslawin, Atroiza, Citenvir, Heftenam, Odimune, Tribuss, Trivenz, Truno, Trustiva and Viraday. - What happens if I am late or miss a dose of meds?
There is some flexibility in dosing, especially if you have been undetectable for some time. Aiming for the same time is a good habit but every one is late of misses a dose sometimes, without any harm. See the full answer for details. - How can one partner test positive and the other negative?
Sometimes this questions comes from the positive partner and sometimes from the negative partner. Often both partners can be confused because they might.have not use condoms, even for several years. The explanation in this answer explains this is common – and just the result of luck. - Can HIV positive people have a baby?
Sometimes this comes from a positive man and sometimes from a positive women. HIV treatment covers all situations. It lets couples conceive naturally if the man is positive and the woman is negative. It also protect the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy if the mother is positive. - What happens if I stop taking treatment?
Short answer: your viral load will rebound quickly and your CD4 will then start to fall – usually to the level before you started treatment. Please see the full answer for details. - What does the number mean on an HIV test result?
We don’t answer test question but we get this a lot from outside the UK. Short answer: less than 1.0 means you are HIV negative. See the full linked answer for details.
Hello Temo and thanks for getting in touch.
All the resources about testing are here: https://i-base.info/qa/11844
Please have a read.
Testing with anything other than 4th generation tests is not conclusive in less than 12 weeks after exposure
Is 10 weeks after exposure conclusive on a rapid test (3rd generation)
Hello Muhiirwa and thanks for getting in touch.
No, an HIV diagnosis is not a permission to leave someone.
These things happen in life.
The most important is to be with people we care about and want to make their lives (and ours) better.
If your girlfriend is taking her medication then she cannot pass on HIV to you.
So you are safe to have a full and substantial relationship with her.
She cannot pass on HIV to any children you might want to have too.
So you can have your full, big family, if you want to.
There are no restrictions for a person living with HIV today.
You are safe and there is nothing you cannot do together.
You can read more here:
https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
I have my girl friend is positive with HIV. Do I have permission to leave her because I don’t have?, what can I do?
Hi Kwandiwe – pls see this link for info on PEP and testing.
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I includes why you need to wait a little longer to test.
I had sex with an hiv positive female who was not on treatment but started Pep within 40 hours after the exposure. I took PEP for 17 days. What are the chances that I am positive. I am getting an HIV test tomorrow
Hi Mom, please see this link for info on testing, esp the FAQ:
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
I tested on Rapid antibody test wondfo on 80 days of my exposure. It is negative and I went back to another centre and do it again on 84 days of exposure and it is also negative. Is it conclusive that am negative despite symptoms that I have seen and now with mild fever and fatigue. HOW RELIABLE SUCH RESULT.
During sex condom had break …what are the chances of infection any disease of partner
Hi Mani, please see the info at this link.
https://i-base.info/qa/11844