Living with HIV – looking after yourself and others

PLHIV can have a long and healthy life. In general, having a balanced diet and being physically active will help PLHIV stay healthy. If PLHIV are thinking of starting a special diet or starting to take any vitamins or supplements, they should discuss this with their general practitioner (GP) and HIV doctor first. Taking care of how they are feeling is important too, and if they are feeling anxious, depressed or unhappy, it is a good idea to talk to their GP or HIV doctor.

If a PLHIV is getting their HIV treatment from a HIV specialist doctor, or a doctor who is not their GP, it is a good idea to find a GP they trust and feel comfortable with. It is important to have a GP to care for aspects of their health which are not related to HIV. WAAC (external site) can help to find a GP who has an interest in supporting PLHIV.

PLHIV’s Rights in Health Care Settings

PLHIV do not have to tell their doctor, dentist, or other health professionals that they have HIV. However, by letting them know, this can help ensure they get the right diagnosis and treatment. If they are taking HIV medications, it is important to let their health professional know, because some medications may interfere with their HIV treatment.

If PLHIV tell their GP they have HIV, then this information is protected by privacy laws. Their GP can only tell other health professionals about their HIV status:

• If the PLHIV says it’s OK to do so
• If they are involved in their health care or treatment
• If they receive a court order saying they must tell their HIV status

If they think a health professional has shared their HIV information without them giving them permission to do so, , they can seek support from WAAC and the Integrated Case Management Program (ICMP).

Looking After Others

PLHIV should talk to their doctor if they are thinking of donating:

• blood
• sperm
• any other body tissue or organ.

HIV treatment is always improving. Many people in WA are accessing free and effective treatments that can be as simple as a pill a day or an injection every 2 months. Treatment is effective,  provides great health benefits, and helps many people achieve an undetectable viral load, preventing onward transmission.

PLHIV should talk with their doctor about what treatment is best for them. 

Looking After PLHIV and Others

Undetectable Viral Load

PLHIV who maintain an undetectable viral load will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partners.

Undetectable viral load means:

• there is so little HIV in the blood that a test cannot detect it
• the HIV virus is under control.

Having an undetectable viral load is very important for the health of PLHIV and for the health of others, including their partners and health professionals.

Work can be good for the health and wellbeing of PLHIV, and living with HIV should not hold people back from finding meaningful work that they enjoy.

Work Rights

PLHIV can continue working at their current job or look for a new job in their chosen field. As an employee with HIV, they have a right to remain in the workforce to the fullest extent possible, and a right to equal employment opportunities. PLHIV have workplace privacy rights, are protected against discrimination and harassment at work because of their condition, and may have a legal right to reasonable accommodations that can help them to do their job

In Australia, there are laws which protect PLHIV from discrimination.

There are very few jobs where an employer or a potential employer can legally ask a person about their HIV status or require them to have an HIV test. PLHIV can talk with their doctor if their HIV status will affect their work. Find more information in “Disclosing Your HIV Status: A Guide to Some of The Legal Issues – Western Australia”. This will help to them make a decision about whether they need to tell their employer they have HIV.

PLHIV and Sex

Living with HIV does not need to limit PLHIV from having a satisfying and safe sex life.

Looking after others

PLHIV are not required by law to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partner/s. It is up to them if they wish to tell them or not. However, they are required by the law to take steps to make sure they do not pass HIV on to their sexual partner/s. This is called ‘taking reasonable precautions’.

For a person living with HIV, the following are considered reasonable precautions:

• having an ‘undetectable HIV viral load (less than 40 copies/mL)’, usually resulting from being on HIV medication; or
• use of barrier protection, such as condoms with lubricant; or
• their sexual partner/s are taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - HIV medicine people take to prevent getting HIV.

If taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex.  PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken as prescribed. Note that it may be difficult to prove that a sexual partner confirmed with you that they are taking PrEP when it is one person’s word against another.

For a PLHIV it is usually a good idea to talk to sexual partners about their HIV status. This can be hard for some people.  Help is available from any of the organisations listed at the end of this fact sheet.

If they have unsafe sex or a condom breaks, there is special treatment that the HIV-negative partner can take to lower their risk of getting HIV. This treatment is called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, and it must be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of having sex (phone 1300 767 161 for 24-hour advice and referral).

Choosing to have children

PLHIV can still choose to have children. Their HIV doctor will be able to explain the different options available that can help them to have a child.

Access to safe and secure housing is one of the most basic human rights. In Australia, it is illegal for housing providers to discriminate against PLHIV. They do not need to tell a housing provider that they have HIV. However, if they wish to get priority accommodation for medical reasons related to their HIV, then they will need to provide supporting evidence that they are HIV positive.

PLHIV can live safely with other people, including sharing the kitchen and bathroom. Family members, housemates, and friends are not at risk of getting HIV unless they have unsafe sex or blood-to-blood contact with them.

Being physically active

Playing a sport, going to the gym, dancing or other physical activity is likely to be good for both physical and mental health. There is no reason PLHIV can’t continue their current exercise or start new ones.

Looking after yourself and others

If anyone is injured and bleeds in any way while playing sport or being physically active, they should stop when they are doing until the bleeding stops and the wound is cleaned and covered.

PLHIV using drugs

Taking drugs, other than those their doctor prescribes, can have harmful effects on people’s health. If PLHIV inject drugs, sharing injecting equipment may put them at risk of getting other infections.

Different kinds of legal or illegal drugs can also affect HIV medications. Talking to their HIV doctor or their GP about their drug use can assist PLHIV to find ways to manage their general health. They can also provide them with options for reducing or stopping their drug use.

Looking after PLHIV and others

If PLHIV inject drugs, they should never share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment. Sharing any injecting equipment will put others at risk of getting HIV.

For a person living with HIV, the following are considered reasonable precautions:

• use sterile needles and syringes along with other injecting equipment
• do not reuse or share needles and syringes along with other injecting equipment with another person.

For more information about safer drug use, refer to the organisations listed at the end of this fact sheet. There is less risk of transmitting HIV if PLHIV swallow, smoke, snort, sniff, or use suppositories to take drugs instead of injecting the drug. If they snort drugs, or use suppositories, make sure they use their own equipment that is for their use only.

Post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP may stop someone getting HIV from used injecting equipment. PEP drugs must be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of the incident (phone 1300 767 161 for 24-hour advice and referral).

By law, people living with HIV cannot be discriminated against or treated differently from others in terms of work, education, housing and the provision of goods and services such as healthcare.

With very few exceptions, no-one can inform other people about a person’s HIV status. If PLHIV think they have been treated differently, or that their privacy has been broken, they can get in touch with the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC) (external site) or refer to the support groups listed at the end of this fact sheet for help.

There are very few situations when PLHIV must disclose their HIV status. PLHIV need to think carefully and check their legal obligations before disclosing, because once disclosed it is impossible to take the information back. For more information see “Disclosing Your HIV Status: A Guide To Some Of The Legal Issues – Western Australia”

Western Australia’s government and Department of Health have obligations to protect the public from certain infectious diseases, including HIV. If PLHIV know they have detectable HIV, or are not taking their HIV treatment as prescribed, and don’t take reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of giving HIV to another person, then they may be breaking the law. For more information see “Disclosing Your HIV Status: A Guide To Some Of The Legal Issues – Western Australia”, contact the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC) (external site) or talk to the friendly team at WAAC (external site).