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1 March 2024. Related: Access to treatment, Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Changing treatment, Children, Clinical trials, Complications and coinfections, COVID-19, Cure, Disclosure, Drug interactions, HIV reinfection (superinfection), HIV testing, HIV transmission, Life expectancy, Living with HIV long-term, Newly diagnosed, Opportunistic infections, Other tests, PEP/PEPSE, Pregnancy, PrEP, Recreational drugs, Research, Resistance, Sero different couples, Sexual health, Side effects, South Africa, Starting treatment, Stopping treatment, Supplements and herbs, Support, TB, Transgender, Travel.
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Answer
A lot of questions are already answered online.
These are the most common questions.
Additionally, each link below links to a page of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) on some of the most popular subjects.
It can be empowering to look through some of these Q&As before sending us a question. If your question is not already answered, we are very happy to still answer this individually.
You can also look at questions by subject. There are over 30 categories to choose from…
- Starting treatment FAQs
- Having a baby FAQs
- Side effects FAQs
- One of you is pos + and the other is neg – FAQs
- Efavirenz FAQs
- Body changes (lipodystrophy) FAQs
- Viral load FAQs
- CD4 FAQs
- FAQs from South Africa
Can you take ARVs even if you aren’t positive? If yes, what are the possible side effects?
If someone is on ARVs, will they still test positive?
Hi Alexis,
It is possible that the tenofovir that is in the Atripla may cause weak bones. However, this is not a certainty and will depend on numerous factors. For more info please see pages 88-89 here:
http://i-base.info/guides/files/2009/04/Side-effects-Dec2010e-FIN1.pdf
Hi Maam Lisa,
I sent you a message last time and appreciate the effort.
I have another question:
I’m 35 years old and I’ve been on my ART for more than 1 month, Atripla.
I found out that ART med can cause the bones to become weak. Can you suggest me maam Lisa a good calcium supplement to minimize my bones deterioration?
Thank you
Hi Esther,
The first thing you need to do is start medication. It’s medication that will help reduce the risk of transmission to your baby. If you don’t take meds, you risk infecting your baby. For more about HIV and pregnancy, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi, I’m 23 positive and pregnant. I’m not on treatment, what do I need to do to make sure that my baby is OK?
Hi Rhoda,
You’re welcome.
Its great to hear that you find what we do helpful. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
This site has been helpful to me , thanks Lisa for the reply God bless you .
Hi Rhoda,
Because your VL is undetectable the risk of transmission is close to zero. Please see here for more info:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Therefore, if pregnancy isn’t an issue nor other STIs, there’s no reason why you can’t have sex without using a condom. That is if you choose to.
hi
I’m 26 yrs old and I started taking ARV’s when I was 15. I’m on second line drugs. My vl is undetected and CD4 count 904. What’s my chances of having sex as a virgin and not infecting my partner without using a condom ?
Hi Ameer,
There’s no need to apologize for your English, it really isn’t a problem. And thank you for your positive feedback.
Because your partner is undetectable the risk of transmission is close to zero. For more info please see the results of the PARTNER study:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/