Basic facts about HIV?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If left untreated, it can take around 10 to 15 years for AIDS to develop, which is when HIV has severely damaged the immune system. With early diagnosis and effective antiretroviral treatment, people with HIV can live a normal, healthy life. HIV is found in the following body fluids of an infected person: semen, blood, vaginal and anal fluids and breast milk. HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat, saliva or urine. According to UK statistics, the most common way for someone to become infected with HIV is by having anal or vaginal sex without a condom.2 You can also risk infection by using infected needles, syringes or other drug-taking equipment (blood transmission), or from mother-to-child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.