HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Prioritize Your Health
Black women and members of the LGBTQ+ community – particularly those who have been incarcerated – are among the most impacted by HIV. A New Way of Life has partnered with experts in the field to develop HIV education and prevention information for thousands of women exiting incarceration across the country through direct support as well as through convenings organized by and for formerly incarcerated Black women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and their families.
Understanding HIV
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS. It attacks the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to fight infections.
HIV targets and destroys CD4 (T) cells, which are essential for a healthy immune system. Without treatment, the virus weakens the body’s natural defenses over time.
While there is no cure for HIV, effective treatments are available that allow people living with HIV to stay healthy and live long, productive lives.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of HIV infection and occurs when the immune system has been severely weakened.
Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS over time. However, with early diagnosis and effective treatment, many people living with HIV never develop AIDS.
A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system becomes critically weakened or they develop certain opportunistic infections or cancers associated with advanced HIV disease.
Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection
Within 2 to 4 weeks after HIV infection, about two-thirds of people will have a flu-like illness. Symptoms include: fever, chills, rash, fatigue, sore throat, and mouth ulcers. These symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks but some people do not have any symptoms at all.
Stage 2: Clinical Latency
In this stage, the virus still multiplies, but at very low levels. People in this stage may not feel sick or have any symptoms. Without HIV treatment, people can stay in this stage for 10-15 years, but some move through this stage faster.
Stage 3: AIDS
If you are living with HIV and not on treatment, the virus will weaken your immune system and progress to AIDS. Symptoms of AIDS include: rapid weight loss, recurring fever, sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals, pneumonia, and neurologic disorders.
HIV Prevention
Get Tested
- Know your HIV status
- Incorporate routine HIV testing into your sexual health toolkit
- Know the status of your partners:
- Ask questions
- Get tested together
Biomedical Prevention
-
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP):
PrEP is a combination of medications that prevents HIV from
establishing an infection and spreading in the body. When taken
as prescribed, PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex
by about 99%.
-
When to consider PrEP
- Are planning for pregnancy
- Are pregnant or postpartum
- Have a history of bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- Have infrequent condom use with one or more partners of unknown HIV status
- Engage in transactional sex
- Have substance use disorder and/or substance use associated with sex
-
When to consider PrEP
Living With HIV
Navigating your positive HIV diagnosis is overwhelming - but you don't have to do it alone.
Telling your partners that you have HIV before you have sex or inject drugs helps your partners make decisions to protect their health. However, these conversations can be difficult.
Another option is the health department telling your partners. This is sometimes called "Partner Services." In addition to letting them know they may have been exposed to HIV, they will also provide your partners with testing, counseling, and referrals for other services.
Talk to your healthcare provider, social worker, case manager, patient navigator, or HIV testing center for support in having these conversations or finding a Partner Services program.
Support Services
National AIDS Hotline
800-342-2437
LGBT National Hotline
888-843-4564
National Mental Health Helpline
1-800-662-HELP
