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.
hi Ashton, this is a service about HIV treatment rather than risk, but the links here have info that answers your Qs:
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
Hello, I am an uncircumcised male and had an encounter with a sex worker 6 weeks ago and the condom slipped. I think the exposure was for only a few seconds as we were both checking on the condom regularly when we realised that the base was inside her, and as i pulled out the condom didn’t come out. I quickly went to wash up after, and I didn’t ask her STD status. As of last week I presented with the following symptoms:
1. Extremely mild but persistent sore throat
2. Runny nose on and off
3. Hives at my waist that disappeared after one day
Could this be HIV? Thank you.
Hi, I was exposed to hiv last year 18 Oct after a month of exposure I went to test for hiv with my partner he tested positive and i tested negative i started to use prep after a month of exposure till now i’m negative i even went for Elisa test after 11 weeks of exposure and still test negative i wanted to know if i can rely on negative test while on prep but now i stopped prep on 25 January and test after a month still negative i’m stressed because i don’t know if prep hide the virus
Hi Pretty, how is your partner doing? Are they okay and do they have access to treatment?
Hi Themy, please see the links here for info on HIV risk and testing.
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
It’s been a year since l slept with hiv positive person.l know that after a year and l got tested result came out negative.should l have fear l don’t know if he is on treatment
Hi Krish, a 4th generation test will be conclusive 42 days from the day of exposure. You would not also need to do a test at 3 months.
For more information about testing and transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
I had a protected sex with a Transgender. I had Anal Insertion for about less than a minute which wasn’t very rough. I had inserted from the vaginal pouch (from front side). I was little drunk but I’m sure condom didnt break. I had an unprotected oral Encounter with the same trans for a brief period about less than a min. I had given an early detection test (4th gen duo) 38 post exposure and my result came out to be negative. Is it conclusive or shall I get tested again after 3 months? I didn’t have any symptoms of fever / flu. But got Fungal infection in my inner thighs. I am worrying a lot about HIV (as I had anal sex with a trans for a brief period and rash is a symptom of the virus). What would be the probability of me catching the virus ? I am very scared.
Hi Khalid, as you have now tested after 3 months you are HIV negative. This is a conclusive result and you do not require further testing.
Your current symptoms are not related to HIV.
Please see here for more information about testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hi,everyone
Am Khalid 27.
I had sex with a lady who was totally dry,I tried to use condom but due to her dryness the condom broke so we went to the clinic for blood check up the doctor took our blood test and told us that we’re negative we can back home and had some fuck for about 30 minutes after left
Now am worried thinking of may be the doctors lied to us that we are safe cos she’s the only and only girl I hve ever fucked since then
I went back to the doctor for more consultation and ended doing another test after three months and told me am negative but still I continued to overthink which brought headache for two weeks
Flu
Mussel pain
But anxiety is too high
What is it now