Does anti-retroviral therapy help?

Does anti-retroviral therapy (ART) really keep you alive for longer, and for how long can you expect to live? How much do anti-retrovirals (ARVs) cost a month, and where are they available? Can you get them from a doctor?

John

How often should one get tested?

I haven’t been at any risk but I was wondering: if I’m not sexually active should I get tested regularly or should it only be sexually-active people who get tested regularly?

I’m in a steady relationship, what are my chances of contracting HIV?

My boyfriend and I both tested negative for HIV and we engage in unprotected sex because I am on a contraceptive. What are my chances of contracting HIV?

When can my boyfriend and I stop using condoms?

My boyfriend and I have been dating for four months. He wants to stop using condoms. We haven’t gotten tested together yet, but he says he got tested this year and he is negative. I know that I am negative. What must I do? I don’t want to lose him?

I’m HIV postive and I am a bread winner at home, how do I disclose to my parents?

I’ve recently found out that I am HIV-positive. I really need my parents to help me financially, but I’m really scared of telling them. What should I do?

What is the safest contraceptive out there?

I come from a strict, religious family who do not encourage or condone sex before marriage. I want to start having sex with my boyfriend and I’m extremely worried about getting pregnant. We have spoken about using condoms, but I wanted to know if there are other forms of birth control I can use without my parents finding out?

Does poverty contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS?

People say that poverty is a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS. That doesn’t make any sense. Surely you can only contract HIV through fluids? How does being poor make any difference? 

How often are HIV-test results wrong?

I’ve seen on movies and TV that doctors sometimes get test results mixed up. I’ve also heard that sometimes the results of an HIV test can come back wrong, how often does this happen? How accurate are the tests?

How can discrimination kill?

I heard once that Madiba said that stigma and discrimination “kills”. What did he mean by that?

What exactly happens when you go for an HIV test?

What is the procedure when you go for an HIV test?

My boyfriend and I are thinking of having sex for the first time, please advise

My boyfriend and I have been together since we were 13. Now I am 17 and thinking of having sex with him for the first time. Neither of us have had sex before and I’m now on the pill, do you think it’s okay if we have sex without a condom?

How many sex workers have HIV?

My friends want me to have sex with a prostitute as part of my 18th birthday present, but I’m very worried about catching HIV. I wanted to know, among sex workers in this country, what percentage are infected with HIV? Also, if I do have sex with a prostitute, should I use two condoms at once to make sure I protect myself?

How do emergency ARVs prevent you from contracting HIV?

If you are raped by someone who is HIV-positive and you then go on emergency ARVs in order to prevent you getting the disease, how do they stop you from getting HIV? I’ve heard that with normal ARVs you can only take them after your CD4 count has dropped below 200, so how are the emergency ARVs different? How do they stop you from actually getting the disease if you take them right away, but don’t stop you from getting the disease if you wait before you take them?

What is the status quo of clinical trials of HIV/AIDS vaccines in SA?

Are there any attempts to find an HIV vaccine in South Africa?

What is being done to prevent contraction of HIV through blood transfusion?

I know that some people have contracted HIV through blood transfusions. What is being done nowadays to stop this from happening again?

Do I have to tell my prospective employees that I’m HIV-positive?

If I’m HIV-positive, can it stop me from getting a job? Do I have to tell my prospective employees that I’m HIV-positive? 

Can I contract HIV from anal sex?

I’ve heard that if you have anal sex you’ll get HIV. Is this true?

Can I get infected from kissing someone with sores on their gums or cut tongue?

If I kiss an infected person who has sores on their gums, or a cut tongue, can I contract HIV?

Can I contract HIV from my pets?

As a pet lover I have three dogs and seven cats, so I make several trips to the vet for small surgical procedures.  Can my pets contract the virus and can I get infected through contact with them?

If blood lands on me, and that person is infected, can I become infected?

I play a lot of rugby and there’s quite often someone who gets a bloody nose or something. If blood lands on me and that person is infected can I become infected? If I wash it off immediately with soap is that enough to prevent infection?

Does circumcision prevent HIV?

Dear Sis’ Lebo, I’ve heard that if you’re circumcised you stand a better chance of not contracting HIV if you have sex with an infected person? Is this right? If it is right, I’m 34-years-old and was wondering if it would be dangerous to be circumcised at stage an old age?

What does CD4 count mean?

I have heard people at the clinic talking about CD4 count, but what does that mean?

How do I know when I have AIDS and not HIV?

I am HIV positive and have been quite sick recently. How do I know when my HIV has become AIDS?

When should I start taking ARV’s?

At what level should my CD4 count be at before I start ARVs?

Can my partner and I have unprotected sex?

I’ve recently started seeing a new girl. We’ve both been tested and have come back negative. Is it safe for us to have unprotected sex if she’s on the pill?

How long should you wait before you get tested after having unprotected sex?

I’ve heard that there is a window period of up to six months? Is this right? How long should I wait to get tested after having sex?

I’ve heard that it’s possible to use a condom twice? Is this true?

Can you use a condom more than once?

How long do ARVs keep you alive?

I know that ARVs make it possible to live with HIV/AIDS, but how long can you live on ARVs?

Should I have my son tested again?

Sis’ Lebo, I found out I was HIV positive when I was three months pregnant in 2006. After I gave birth to my son I got him tested as well and he tested negative. During my pregnancy I wasn’t sexually active and did everything I could to protect my son. I was told that if I abstain, and do the necessary things to keep my baby healthy, he might be negative. After he was tested I asked if I should bring him back for another test at a later date and they said no, there is no need for me to do that as the baby is fine. He is now two-and-half years old, healthy and never been sick from any HIV-related illness. What I’m asking is do I need to take him for another test to see if he is alright or was his initial test 100% accurate?