Question
How long can someone live with HIV?
2 January 2018. Related: All topics, Life expectancy.
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..
Yes this is possible,
Please see this similar question: Why am I HIV-negative if my boyfriend is HIV-positive?
Let me know if you have any further questions!
I’m sorry but i-Base no longer answers individual questions about risks of HIV transmission or HIV testing. If you have had one positive and one negative test result it’s important to get another test to check your status.
This service is based on information relating to treatment of people who are HIV positive.
Information online
Most testing questions are already answered on the FAQ page:
http://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
Hi, please i need your advice. I tested negative in february,and have not had unprotected sex or exposed myself to any of the risk factors associated with Hiv.since i have access to the test kits,subsequent test in june shows i’m hiv+ with the first kit but the second kit used for confirmation shows negative.is it now 99% certain that i’m hiv+?i’m yet to get clearifications. Really scared and confused.
Is it possible to be hiv positive, married for seven months and my husband be negative?
Hi Rahul,
It’s up to your dad to tell people about his HIV status. This isn’t something you can do for him.
The main issue is whether your mom is at risk of being infected, or if she might already be HIV positive. Your father needs to know that she may already be infected, and she needs to get tested. And if they are having sex without using condoms she is at risk of catching HIV.
Maybe you could show your dad our HIV testing and sexual transmission guide which explains the risks of sexual transmission. Terrence Higgins Trust, a UK charity, has tips on their website about how to tell your partner you are HIV positive.
rebecca,thanks a lot for help by answering,it’s my last question please help
the condition of my dad is only known by me and my father ,my mom and my sisters don’t know anything about that infection,my father say don’t tell them,they will became depressed,
still 6 to 7 months gone and nobody knows
my dad takes all protection like his shaving kits for one use only and many more to not to spread that infection to anybody
and i am also ok for nobody knows he is infected
rebecca please tell me ,is this ok na,or i have to tell everybody ,but if i tell then it May create some ethical problems,it is common in India,please help me ,it’s my last question to tell you,
and i am also think that it is not required to tell tell them
Hi Rahul,
Although some HIV drugs are linked to increased cholesterol this can be monitored for by doctors. Because of your father’s heart condition his doctor is likely to be very aware of this. By careful monitoring the doctor should pick up any changes. Usually these can be treated through exercise and diet changes, or with a type of drug called a statin.
thanks rebecca,
it means when my father started treatment with drug related anti retroviral therapy ,he ll face huge problems related to his heart decease,
rebecca i am also medical student of 2nd year mbbs,i know heart functioning above 55 percent is good,but after starting drug therapy ,drugs has it’s own side effects, it will contain high steroids level,increasing blood cholesterol level ,so ultimately is further problems related to heart rebecca,
my father was army man ,i know his immunity is strong ,but i am little bit in fear,
and thanks for your support with great answers
Hello Winnie,
If you have had a positive HIV test result you should check this with a confirmation test. I can not tell you what stage of HIV you are at. If you are positive your doctor will run tests to see how well your body is coping. They may or may not be able to tell when you were infected. This is only possible if you think you were infected in the last 6 months. To check this you would need a second HIV test called STARHS or RITA. Unfortunately this is only available in some clinics.
Hi,I got herpes simplex around september last year,didn’t get the right treatment for it,tested for HIV but the test was negative,around april,started taking avorax for the simplex,tested HIV positive weakly reactive,was wondering what stage of HIV am at?