Top questions…

About half of all the questions to i-Base are covered by the few questions below.

Please check this page before asking a question. If your question is covered by the topics below, we will send you to these answers first.

1: Why doesn’t i-Base answer questions on HIV testing and transmission?

Short answer: i-Base only has limited resources – and we are mainly to help people living with HIV. Instead, we have posted lots of info online that answers questions about testing and risk. The full answer explains this and includes links to this other information. See full answer.

2. Is U=U really true? Does ART prevent HIV risk to partners?

Quick answer: YES. Undetectable viral load means HIV is Untransmittable (U=U). . This is related to Q9 above about not needing condoms. See more info on U=U and Q&As on U=U.

3: Can I increase my CD4 count without HIV treatment (ART)?

Short answer: NO. Using HIV meds (called ART) is the only proven way to increase your CD4 count and keep it high. Not vitamins, not supplements, not diet and definitely NOT so-called “immune-boosters” which are scams. Read the full answer for details.

4: What happens if I am late or miss a dose of HIV meds (ART)?

Short answer: Missing or being late once will be okay. But aiming for the same time will help you remember. Everyone is late or misses a dose sometimes, without any harm. There is more flexibility once you have been undetectable for some time. See the full answer for details.

5: How can one partner test HIV positive and the other HIV negative?

Short answer: This is just good luck. HIV is difficult to catch. Sometimes this question comes from the positive partner and sometimes from the negative partner. Often both partners can be confused if they not been using condoms, sometimes for several years. The full answer explains why this is common.

6: How can I tell my partner I am living with HIV?

Short answer: There is no one answer. Every situation is different – but some things can help.
The detailed answered includes talking about HIV in general before making this about you. Also, to make sure you have support and that this will be safe. The full answer also explains that you should not have to hide this part of your life, and a partner who doesn’t do this can’t be good for you.

7: Can people living with HIV safely have a baby?

Short answer: YES, absolutely, but you need to use HIV treatment (ART). Sometimes this question comes from a positive man and sometimes from a positive women. Sometimes both people are positive. ART covers all situations. ART lets couples conceive naturally if one partner is HIV negative. It also protect the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy, if the mother is positive. See this section of the guide to HIV and pregnancy.

8: What happens if I stop taking HIV Meds (ART)?

Short answer: Your viral load will rebound quickly (maybe within a week). After viral rebound, your CD4 is likely to drop, though this might take several months. The viral rebound will usually be to the level your viral load was at before you started HIV treatment. Please see the full answer for details.

9: What does the number on an HIV test result mean, or “non-reactive”?

Short answer: Less than 1.0 means you are HIV negative. “Non-reactive” also means HIV negative. i-Base does not answer test questions but we still get asked this a lot from outside the UK. This full answer has links for more info on HIV testing.

10: Can we stop using condoms if viral load is undetectable on ART?

Quick answer: YES, if you both want to. The PARTNER study reported zero transmissions after couples had sex more than 58,000 times without condoms. Whether gay or straight, an undetectable viral load stops HIV transmission. Condoms are useful for other reasons, but not if you are only using them to stop HIV. Read the easy Q&A for full results in the link.

11: Questions about life expectancy…

Quick answer: Effective HIV treatment (ART) normalises life expectancy. This is slightly more complicated if you are diagnosed late or have other coinfections. Otherwise, so long as you are good taking meds you can plan to have a full and active life. See this full answer. Or see these similar Q&As for more details.

12: How quickly will HIV treatment start to work?

Quick answer: IMMEDIATELY. HIV treatment (ART) starts to work from the first dose on day one. Viral load drops quickly, perhaps by 90% in the first week, then steadily until it gets to undetectable. The CD4 count increases more slowly and steadily, See ART in pictures for more detail.

13: I have a rash… headache… diarrhoea… sleep problems…

Quick answer: Please contact your clinic if you are worried about a new symptom. Your doctor needs to decide what is the cause and whether this is a side effect or linked to another infection. i-Base has lots of information online, but we are not doctors and so can’t diagnose a symptom or recommend treatment.

14. Can I use herbs or supplements with my HIV meds?

Quick answer: Unless there is evidence to prove safety, i-Base advises caution. An interaction might stop your HIV meds from working or cause serious side effects. See this full answer to explain these risks and for info about interactions occur.

15: What can make efavirenz (Atripla/Tribuss etc) easier – or should I change?

Short answer: Efavirenz is not longer recommended. Instead, it is better to use ART that is based on second-generation integrase inhibitor like dolutegravir or bictegravir.

If you still need to use efavirenz, take it at night and not after a high fat meal.

Side effects with efavirenz can be difficult. This question includes tips for how to make it easier and for when to change. Efavirenz is one of the drugs in Atripla and the many generic versions including Atenef, Atreslawin, Atroiza, Citenvir, Heftenam, Odimune, Tribuss, Trivenz, Truno, Trustiva and Viraday. See the full answer for details.

16. Will I always test HIV positive with undetectable viral load?

Quick answer: YES. HIV tests look for antibodies and even if there is an HIV cure the HIV test will be positive. The only exception is if you started ART very quickly after HIV transmission. See full answer.

17. What is the best food if I am living with HIV?

Quick answer: HIV doesn’t need a special diet. Just like for anyone else, eating a healthy and balanced diet is good for your health. Eat plenty of vegetables (“five-a-day”), beans, pulses, whole grains and white meat and reduce salt, sugar, red meat and high fat foods. See: A balanced diet and your health.

18. Can I switch between Atripla, Odimune, Rixene and Trivenz etc?

Quick answer: YES. These are all generic versions of the same single-pill HIV combination. These are tenofovirD (TD or TDF), FTC and efavirenz. See: generic HIV drugs and Atripla.

19. Can people living with HIV use vaccines? Are we at higher risk of COVID-19 or mpox?

Quick answer. YES and YES. Many vaccines are strongly recommended in the UK for people living with HIV. Only ‘live’ vaccines are not recommended if someone has a low CD4 count (less than 200). HIV can increase the risk of both more serious COVID-19 and more serious mpox. See: Q&A on COVID vaccines and mpox factsheet. Also UK HIV vaccine guidelines (BHIVA).

Last updated: 1 October 2026.