U Have the Power
You have the power! There is a new, simple way to describe the powerful results of taking your meds daily to keep the amount of HIV in your body low. It’s called Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
It means:
Undetectable: Your lab results show very little HIV present in your body for six months or longer.
Another term for this is “being virally suppressed.”Untransmittable: You have zero risk of passing HIV to your sexual partners.
When a person is undetectable, their HIV is untransmittable—the amount of HIV in their body is so low they can't pass HIV to their sexual partners.
HIV treatment = powerful HIV prevention. Awesome!
Take Your Meds to End HIV
Everyone has a role in ending the HIV epidemic.
If you’re living with HIV, the best thing you can do is take your meds and stay in care. Taking your meds consistently makes the amount of HIV in your body very low — so low that it’s difficult to measure.
With so little HIV in your body, you prevent others from getting HIV. Taking as little as one pill a day will have a huge impact.
If we can get 90% of people with HIV to take their meds and stay in care, we can end the HIV epidemic by 2030!
Effective HIV Treatment
You should start treatment as soon as possible after learning you have HIV. Your goal is to decrease the amount of HIV in your body to very low levels - so low that it’s difficult for lab tests to measure.
It takes commitment to do this. You need to take your meds on time, every time, every day.
You’ll need to take your meds for six months or longer to lower the amount of HIV in your body. Once your doctor completes lab tests and confirms your low levels of HIV, you can be confident you won’t pass HIV to others.
Remember: You’ll still have HIV. You’ll need to keep taking your meds and seeing your doctor regularly to make sure the amount of HIV in your body remains low. But you won’t have to worry about putting your sexual partners at risk for getting HIV.
FAQs
+ What is U=U?
It stands for Undetectable equals Untransmittable. When a person with HIV takes their HIV medication as prescribed, they can make the amount of HIV in their body so low that a blood test will not detect it. A person with undetectable HIV has ZERO risk of passing HIV to their sexual partners. It's a scientifically proven fact!
+ How long will it take to reduce the amount of HIV in my body?
You’ll have to take meds for about six months before the amount of HIV in your body gets low enough to have sex and not pass HIV to others. Then, you need to keep taking your meds daily to keep your HIV at low levels.
+ If my labs results can’t measure any HIV in my body, does it mean I’m cured?
NO! There is no cure for HIV. Even though your lab results show very little HIV in your body, it’s still there. The amount is just very, very low and hard to find. This means you’re taking your HIV meds and they are working. Keep up the great work!
+ How often do I need to have my viral load checked?
U=U requires regular testing to make sure your HIV is still undetectable. Generally, you should visit your doctor every three months to have lab work done, as well as testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—especially if you or your partner have other sexual partners.
+ Does everyone who takes HIV meds become “undetectable?”
A small amount of people won’t ever be able to lower the amount of HIV in their body. This can be due to other health issues, how often they take their meds, or other reasons.
It’s OK if a person can’t lower their HIV. To live the healthiest life possible, they should keep taking their meds as prescribed. They can enjoy safer sex with partners who choose other prevention options like condoms and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
+ What will happen if I stop taking my HIV meds?
If you stop taking your meds, or don’t take them daily as prescribed, the amount of HIV in your body will increase. This can affect your overall health and will make it possible for you to pass HIV on to a sexual partner.
+ Can U=U prevent the spread of HIV through breastfeeding or intravenous drug use?
No. HIV treatment is only 100% effective at preventing HIV through sexual activity.
+ Do HIV meds protect me from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
HIV meds DO NOT stop other STIs (like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia) from being shared among partners. If you are sexually active, you should be tested for STIs at least once a year.
+ If my HIV is undetectable and my partner is HIV negative, is it still necessary to use condoms?
A combination of PrEP and condoms will provide maximum protection. While PrEP protects HIV negative people from getting the virus, using condoms is recommended to prevent other STIs like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia. Always discuss your preferred means of protection with your partner.
Get HIV Care
The Ryan White Program provides free, high-quality HIV medical care and supportive services. Eligibility is based on your income. Some people think that they won’t qualify for assistance because they aren’t “poor” or disadvantaged in some way. The truth is there are a variety of programs designed to help people with a wide range of income levels and needs.
The Ryan White Program offers free eligibility screenings, including eligibility for other assistance programs like Medicaid, Indian Health Services, and the Veterans Administration, among others.
Ready to find out what services you qualify for?
Contact Central Eligibility:
1366 E Thomas Rd, STE 203
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 212-3788 | ceoffice@aaaphx.org
There are more prevention options than ever before!
Share
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Contact Us
We value feedback and welcome all questions, comments and suggestions.
We’re also happy to provide a private answer for any questions you may have. You will receive a confidential response by email or text within 2 business days.
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About Maricopa County’s Ryan White Part A Program
The Ryan White program provides a range of medical and support services from medical care, to case management, dental and food vouchers, to eligible people with HIV in Maricopa and Pinal County. People with HIV who take their medication as prescribed and have an undetectable viral load, stay healthy and have no risk of giving HIV to their partners.
For more information, please visit https://www.maricopa.gov/1854/Ryan-White-Part-A.