​HIV and AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the white blood cells and damages the immune system. A damaged immune system has difficulty fighting infection. A person with AIDS has a severely weakened immune system and is at risk of getting severe infections.

You can get HIV from having unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex. Unprotected sex is when you have sex without a condom, or an oral dam. Sharing needles, or exposing yourself to other peoples’ blood, cum, or vaginal fluids puts you at risk of getting HIV. HIV can also be passed from a hapū person to the pēpi. Blood transfusion — in countries that do not pre-test blood — can expose you to HIV. 

Many people will not have any symptoms of HIV for years — which is why regular STI testing is so important! If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• A flu-like illness
• Frequent thrush, and other infections

The only way to find out if you have HIV is to get tested.

We test for HIV by ordering a blood test for you. You should be contacted with your test results within a week.

Find out more about HIV testing at the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.

HIV can be controlled by antiretroviral medication. Treatments are available for secondary infections and some cancers. There is no cure or vaccine available for HIV.   

Condoms and oral dams can protect against HIV, and other STIs. Using lube with condoms can make sex more pleasurable for some people, and can prevent the condom from breaking by reducing friction.

You can protect yourself from HIV by taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a medication that can be taken to help prevent you getting HIV. Check out the Burnett Foundation for more info about how to get PrEP. 

Some groups of people are at a higher risk of getting HIV — for example:

• Men having sex with men
• Trans fems
• People having sex with trans fems
• People who live with a partner who has HIV  

Lots of STIs don’t have obvious symptoms — so it’s important to get tested for STIs before and after unprotected sex, or anytime you have sex with a new person. 

If you’re having sex with several people — or the person you have sex with is having sex with several people — talk to us about how often you should be screened for HIV and other STIs.

If you inject drugs, it’s best not to share needles. Check out the Needle Exchange for low-cost injecting supplies.

If you are hapū, get an antenatal blood test to check you don’t have HIV. 

If you find out that you have HIV, there are a few important things that you need to do:

• Get treatment for HIV. If you are diagnosed with HIV, we can refer you to the right place for treatment
• Tell the people that you have had sex with recently — if it is safe for you to do — that they need to get tested for HIV 
• Learn how to have safer sex, as a person with HIV. The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa has lots of useful information about this subject. Positive Women provides support for women and families living with HIV