Question
How long can I live if I’m taking HIV treatment (ART)?
15 January 2018. Related: All topics, Life expectancy, Living with HIV long-term.
Can HIV kill when you have an undetectable viral load? I’m doing well on medication and how long can i live to the cure? Lastly, why cant I stop thinking about my HIV status – first thing in the morning and also just before I fall asleep?
Polio have been eradicated but why cant scientists do the same for HIV?
Answer
The quick answer is that with modern HIV drugs (called ART) your life expectancy is likely to be similar to if you were HIV negative. The earlier someone is diagnosed and start ART, the quicker any damage from HIV can be reversed.
For most people, HIV is easy to treat and easy to manage. ART can give you a normal life expectancy and an excellent quality of life.
Hw long anyone will live depends on things you can change (smoking, exercise, medication) and thing you can’t (genetics and luck). A study in Denmark (2005) estimated that the survival is more than 35 years for a young person diagnosed with HIV infection and another study in Canada (2003) report that in the US, life expectancy at age 20 years was an additional 58.3 years.
As long as your CD4 count stays above 200 cells/mm3, the risk of most HIV complications is pretty low. At higher CD4 levels – above 350, or 500, or 700 – the risk becomes lower still. Although some health problems are slightly higher in HIV positive people compared to HIV negative people, these risks are also often reduced by ART.
If you continue to take your medication as prescribed and do not miss or taking doses late, then the risk of HIV health problems in the future s very low. However, just as HIV negative people become ill, lifestyle changes to reduce these risks are important if you are HIV positive. For example, keeping mentally and physically active, eating a balanced diet, resting well, not smoking etc).
Having HIV might not always be easy though. The shock of being diagnosed sometimes takes a long time to come to terms with and at the moment you are still working on this. Already, I am sure you feel better than when you were first diagnosed and this will continue to become easier every year.
Most people worry about the impact of HIV on their life. This could bewhy you think about your HIV status on a daily basis. If this continues to be difficult perhaps get in touch with a local support group or ask about counselling. Talking about your HIV status can help you to deal with it and also through group support you can share experiences and also learn from one another. You do not have to deal with it in isolation.
Finally, you asked about research into a cure. HIV is very complex in a way that is different to polio. Although currently there is no vaccine or cure, there is a lot of ongoing research.
HIV treatment is one of the successes of modern medicine. The breadth and expertise in scientific advances has not only developed 30 medications in five drug classes but this research has contributed to many other areas of medicine.
Even though curing HIV is difficult, there are lots of reasons to be optimistic.
This question was updated in January 2018 from an original answer posted in November 2011. (See: Question 10 at this link for more information).
I’ve been having sex with my girlfriend who’s positive for 3 years. She’s on treatment. Am I OK?
Hi Jenny,
For me to be able to answer this question I’m going to need some more info. What does your niece need help with? Is it emotional support or information about HIV?
My niece is HIV positive, how can I help her?
Hi Joseph, it would be better to use your head and face up to your fear rather hiding behind them. Using condoms has already made sure you stayed HIV negative for years. HIV doesn’t get though a condom. Now we also know that someone on treatment with undetectable viral load is not infectious. This is because there is so little HIV on treatment that there is nothing to be infections. Please google U=U to bring yourself up-to-date with the latest scientific evidence. Or see this review of the evidence from i-Base:
http://i-base.info/htb/32308
The world’s leading scientist and health system all support the statement that undetectable viral load = untransmittable HIV.
I am HIV negative, but my partner is HIV positive, but my plans is to leave her because I fear to be infected, but also feel pity because of two sons we have. We are always having unprotected sex. Is it possible to pass me the virus while she always taking he medication?
Rath, are you male or female, I want to talk to you about something.
Hi Barbara – thanks for posting this information and link. I hope your son is doing well. Please let me know if you have other questions.
Rath, Go online do a google search on Ryan White program Its a free support group that will give you free, doctors, test, medication, dentist, counseling and more all for free. Or call 1-888-640-9356 m-f 10am – 630pm
The web site is
http://www.hab.hrsa.gov
Or email ryanwhitedatasupport@wrma.com
God bless you and take care of you. I just found out my son has HIV so I understand your concerns.
Hi Rath,
HIV is now a very controllable health condition, therefore there’s no reason why you can’t have a normal life. Yes you can get married and yes you can have kids. It might help if you talk to others who are positive.
I’m 22 years old. Now I have positive HIV. Can I get married and have a lovely children with negative HIV? Can I have the same life like other people the negative HIV? I hope all of you give me some advice because I feel hard everyday and I don’t know how can I do next with my future? Sometimes I want to die but I can’t because of my parents.
Thank you so much.
Looking forward to see all your advice.