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 there Mr P I hope you are okay. If your partner has both HIV and TB she needs medication for both infections. Please ask about her CD4 count and viral load and when the clinic will provide ARVs. These sound essential now so this is very important. The tests show you do not have HIV.
Hi, I am Mr P, my partner for 20yrs she went for traditional training 2022, for the whole year she had relationship with the trainer, after she came back we were not sexually active and during sex we never use protection, 2023 we have sex twice late 2022 from july 2024 till 2025 no sex at all, she tested twice posetive, she currently lost lot of weight from size 38 to 30, no appetite, she is diagnosed with TB and ulcers, she is so weak cant walk properly, her lips are red and skin darker, she lost her voice, they gave her medications except ARV. I tested March 2023 negative, I tested August 2024 negative, I tested May 2025 negative. I am concerned and worried.
Hello anonymous and thanks for getting in touch.
It’s always best to have confirmation you are undetectable before engaging in unprotected sexual activity.
However, everyone is responsible to protect themselves and it was two of you that night.
Also, just because you have sex once doesn’t mean you will 100% catch HIV.
You need to wait and your partner will need more tests to be sure about the result.
However, you are doing everything you can by taking treatment and now your partner is also taking PrEP
That’s all you can do to protect each other really.
Please relax and enjoy your relationship.
I was diagnosed with HIV weeks before I met my boyfriend and we met on the second day of me starting my treatment and we had unprotected sex, I told him to test 9 days after that he tested and the tests results came negative and he was given prep.. what are the risks of transmission?
Hello Navjot and thanks for getting in touch.
All the resources about testing and risk are here: https://i-base.info/qa/11844
Please have a read.
Hi There I had a pimple on the base of my penis, it crusted and after a week I had sex with a paid girl.
Is there a risk of HIV from vaginal fluid touch??
I Don’t know the status of that girl. I used protection during sex.