I am 30F from Kenya i want to date av had HIV since i was 12 so by now its like part of my life am on medz i have reached U=U and i am very curious how easy is it for me to find a partner ? Have you been able to date after diagnosis?

My partner was diagnosed last year and unfortunately I chose a shifty silver plan prior. Out of pocket I think meds would've been like $1500 for a 3 month supply. Luckily he is on ADAP program which covers the cost. For reference our current Kaiser plan has a deductible was 2,900 individual with maximum oop of 9100.

Im a high earner so we will have about a year left of ADAP before we cross the income threshold and want to start being aware of what things to look for when choosing a health plan once we get off ADAP and have a cost for meds with insurance that can be covered by Gilead Co pay card.

Some choices Im between are Kaiser Full Gold HMO with 250 deductible with 7800 out of pocket max, Anthem blue cross platinum vivity HMO with $0 deductible and 3350 out of pocket.

I feel at a loss understanding Healthcare and want to be able to choose the right plan to ensure my partner is covered adequately. Any advice on how to analyze plans or resources is greatly appreciated.

I know getting HIV from giving head is extremely rare, but I tend to overthink and worry a lot so I wanted to ask for some advice. On October 19 at like 12:30 AM, I gave a guy head and he ejaculated in my mouth/throat and I swallowed. I also had two small mouth ulcers on the inside of my upper lip from accidentally hitting it with my water bottle. Neither of them was bleeding or open, but I know that having them could increase my chances of getting HIV. I don't know his HIV status because I never asked him. In the worst-case scenario where he's HIV positive and ejaculated in my mouth while I had those two ulcers could I have HIV, or is the risk still extremely low? Should I consider getting PEP, or am I just overthinking it?

Also yea I know I had the ulcers and the increased risk associated with them before I gave him head but I was extremely horny. I haven't had sex in like 5 months and I always use condoms when I do but this was just an impulsive decision. And I've given head before and not worried but I never had ulcers.

I’m 29 and was diagnosed with HIV two weeks ago. My career is currently taking off, and I’m really scared this diagnosis might somehow hold me back professionally.

I know modern treatment allows us to live normal lives, but I can’t help worrying about my future.
For those who have been living with HIV for a while, did your diagnosis affect your career, ambitions, or professional opportunities? Or have you been able to keep progressing as before?

I’d really appreciate hearing your personal experiences.

https://www.shamelesspath.com/guides/hiv-cure-2026-trials-update-whats-actually-promising

Very sparse on details but works as a snapshot of the state of treatment options and cure research. Few drugs named, no studies highlighted, no links to sources.

I want to know if I can work like nurse with hiv. I live in Romania

Heyy everyone!

Has anyone here visited Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for HIV treatment?

I wanted to know about your experience with their HIV treatment services, particularly the availability of free or subsidised antiretroviral (ART) medicines.

Are the medicines provided free of cost, and how is the overall treatment and patient care?

I'd appreciate any feedback or personal experiences.

Thank you!

Hoy en Madrid tuvo lugar una marcha que se lleva celebrando ya 5 años. Es el día del pride VIH positivo.

I’m spiraling even when I was diagnosed my lymphocytes where normal at like 22 percent now a year later they are down to 15 why is this happening I take medication everyday

Im hiv positive since December 2025

Today I met with a friend that works in a non profit organisation that do std rapid tests where I got my positive result there last year, I asked him to do the same tests again: hiv, sífilis and hepatitis A, B and C

For my surprise im negative to all of them, including hiv and I was so happy. I was thinking that even if I’m undetectable it was gonna show up two lines like the day I did it for the first time and got the confirmation result but it didn’t.

So when we are undetectable it doesn’t show up in those rapid tests? That’s a really good thing (at least I think so)

 1.      How a New Long-Acting HIV Drug Combo Tackles Resistancehttps://www.news- https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/10/432761/how-new-long-acting-hiv-drug-combo-tackles-resistance

2.      Older Age Linked to Better Quality of Life in Adults With HIV After ART Switch https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/older-age-better-qol-hiv-art-switch/

3.      Former Division of HIV Health employee alleges hostile work environment https://epgn.com/2026/10/14/former-division-of-hiv-health-employee-alleges-hostile-work-environment/

4.      New Study Pilots Intervention to Prevent HIV Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/new-study-pilots-intervention-to-prevent-hiv-among-pregnant-and-postpartum-women/

5.      More Than Half of Adults Are Not Immune to Hepatitis A and B https://www.poz.com/article/half-adults-immune-hepatitis-b

6.      What to Know About Hepatitis B When Switching to Tenofovir-Sparing Antiretroviral Regimens https://www.thebodypro.com/hiv/antiretroviral-switch-strategy-hepatitis-b-tenofovir-sparing

7.      Why Are Women the Absent Voice in HIV Prevention? https://www.aidshealth.org/2026/10/why-are-women-the-absent-voice-in-hiv-prevention/

8.      Long-Acting HIV Shot Works Just Fine for Patients With Adherence Issues https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/hivaids/123413

9.      PrEP Deserts: Why HIV Prevention Still Misses Those at Risk https://www.drugtopics.com/view/prep-deserts-why-hiv-prevention-still-misses-those-at-risk

1. Is It Worthwhile to Switch Your HIV Treatment Regimen Even If Your Current One Works Well? https://www.thebody.com/hiv/switching-hiv-antiretroviral-treatment-pros-cons

1. Researchers improve CRISPR technology for detecting HIV and other RNA viruses https://www.news-medical.net/news/20261013/Researchers-improve-CRISPR-technology-for-detecting-HIV-and-other-RNA-viruses.aspx

1. Mapping the interaction of HIV with antiretroviral drugs in lymph nodes https://www.irsicaixa.es/en/mapping-interaction-hiv-antiretroviral-drugs-lymph-nodes

1. $5.8 million study explores gut-brain inflammation in people with HIV https://www.news-medical.net/news/20261013/2458-million-study-explores-gut-brain-inflammation-in-people-with-HIV.aspx

1. Federal funding pullback chills HIV trials at UCSD https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/10/12/federal-funding-pullback-chills-hiv-trials-at-ucsd/

1. Manatee biotech company gets $9.6M grant for HIV prevention https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2026/oct/14/manatee-biotech-company-grant/

1. Ukraine Keeps HIV Response Steady Under Fire https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/ukraine-keeps-hiv-response-steady-under-fire

1. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day 2026 https://www.poz.com/article/national-latino-aids-awareness-day-2026

1. 3 steps to HIV PrEP: A simple guide https://www.aafp.org/sponsored-resources/gilead-3-steps-to-hiv-prep-a-simple-guide

1. Kristaps Porziņģis says he does not have HIV or AIDS amid indefinite Warriors absence https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7690853/2026/10/14/kristaps-porzingis-warriors-health-update-out-indefinitely/

1. MISTR Brings Slew of Celebrities to Celebrate National PrEP Day in West Hollywoodhttps://wehotimes.com/mistr-brings-slew-of-celebrities-to-celebrate-national-prep-day-in-west-hollywood/

I’m looking for advice and personal experiences from people who have switched from dolutegravir (DTG) to another HIV medication and have maintained good viral suppression and overall health.

I started my treatment with TLD (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF] + lamivudine [3TC] + dolutegravir [DTG]). After about a year, I switched to a TAF-based regimen (tenofovir alafenamide [TAF]) because I was concerned about the potential long-term effects of TDF on kidney and bone health.

However, I’ve since experienced weight gain and an increase in my HbA1c levels. I’m unsure whether these changes are related to TAF, DTG, or a combination of factors.

My doctor has indicated that switching to a two-drug regimen may be an option. I’m therefore considering dolutegravir + lamivudine (DTG/3TC, sold as Dovato), provided I’m eligible. However, I’m also interested in alternatives that would allow me to move away from DTG, given its association with weight gain in some people.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has:

- Switched from TLD to a TAF-based regimen and subsequently experienced weight gain or increased HbA1c.

- Switched from DTG to DTG/3TC (Dovato) and noticed any improvements in weight, blood sugar, lipids, or other metabolic markers.

- Switched from DTG to a completely different regimen and maintained good viral suppression.

- Discussed similar concerns with their HIV specialist and found a regimen that worked well long term.

My main priorities are maintaining an undetectable viral load while protecting my kidney and bone health and managing my weight, HbA1c, and cholesterol.

If you’ve made a similar switch, what regimen did you move to, how has your experience been, and did you notice any meaningful changes in your lab results?

I understand that treatment decisions depend on individual medical history, resistance testing, and other factors. I’m not looking to change medication without my doctor’s guidance; I’d simply like to learn from other people’s real-world experiences.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

Hey guys, so I’ve been dating this guy for about a month now, and he told me he’s HIV positive but undetectable (U=U).
We’ve only done stuff like kissing, hugging, handjobs, and I’ve sucked his nipples and fingered him. We haven’t had sex yet.
I’m the top and he’s the bottom. I wanna try more things with him, but honestly, I’m a bit scared about the HIV part. He says he’s undetectable, but I don’t know if I can trust that blindly since we’ve only been dating for a month. I also don’t wanna take PrEP right now.
I’m not judging him or anything, I just wanna be careful and understand the risks before doing anything.
So I wanted to ask:
1. Is it safe to get a blowjob from him without a condom?
2. Is rimming him safe?
3. Can I top him with a condom? Is that safe?
I’d appreciate some honest advice, especially from people who’ve been in this situation. I like this guy, but I also wanna make sure I’m not putting my health at risk.

Our helper has been with us for a few months and is basically part of the family. She recently trusted us enough to tell us she's HIV positive, and I want to make sure we respond in the right way.

Would really appreciate advice, especially from employers who've been in this situation or anyone living with HIV:

At home: She lives with us and we have kids I know HIV isn't spread through everyday contact, but is there anything we should know, like how to handle this situation

Comment avez-vous fait pour surmonter les temps difficiles après un diagnostic positif ? Par le travail ? Par votre entourage ? Besoin de conseils.

Et certains d’entre vous n’ont pas ressenti de tristesse, peur ou anxiété dans les premiers jours ?

Merci :)

Just started my A.R.T 40 days ago.
I ‘m noticing more hair than before and frankly my doctor isn’t that great .
- is this normal ?
- should I be worried ?
- any natural remedy to decrease hair fall as I don’t want any chemicals in my body .

Hey, I’m wondering if anybody has any experience with cabenuva increasing their blood pressure? I started in March at a new provider after the Florida ADAP debacle and recently switched back to my old provider who confirmed it is up from before I started taking the injections (records from my last in office appointment in January) not sure if that’s the cause or not but curious if there’s any anybody out there who may have experienced something similar. Thanks

A couple of days ago, I accidentally stumbled upon a show while browsing HBO called Looking, a miniseries from about 10 years ago about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco.

Honestly, after a few episodes, I found it pretty boring and a bit pretentious. But that wasn’t even the part that bothered me the most. There’s a scene where two guys have sex and then ask each other if they have any STIs. One of them says, “I don’t have AIDS,” and the other responds with something like, “Thank God!”

I found that exchange so inappropriate and uncomfortable. It really made me think about how HIV stigma and the shame surrounding it are still perpetuated, sometimes even within the LGBTQ+ community itself. I understand that the show is a product of its time, and I’m not expecting every character to be perfectly educated or politically correct. But the way that scene was written and played out felt particularly insensitive.

Am I overthinking this, or did anyone else find that scene problematic? I’m curious how people who watched the show when it originally aired feel about it today, especially considering how much HIV prevention, treatment, and public awareness have evolved over the years.

 1.      Los Angeles Nonprofit Settles Medicare Fraud Allegations for $1.44M https://www.westsidecurrent.com/court/los-angeles-nonprofit-settles-medicare-fraud-allegations-for-1-44m/article_203cb7d7-99ad-4810-8182-441064c6679d.html

2.      At San Francisco General, researchers are learning how to control HIV without drugs https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-10-04/at-san-francisco-general-researchers-are-learning-how-to-control-hiv-without-drugs

3.      Older Age Linked to Better Quality of Life in Adults With HIV After ART Switch https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/older-age-better-qol-hiv-art-switch/

4.      Canadian study links cardiovascular disease to declining brain health https://mailchi.mp/catie/canadian-study-links-cardiovascular-disease-to-declining-brain-health?e=d7d7c4df82

5.      Anktiva May Help Shrink HIV Viral Reservoir https://www.poz.com/article/anktiva-may-help-shrink-hiv-viral-reservoir

6.      Long-Acting Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine Superior to Daily Oral ART for HIV https://www.contagionlive.com/view/long-acting-cabotegravir-rilpivirine-superior-to-daily-oral-art-for-hiv

7.      Helping women with HIV build strength as they age https://today.uic.edu/helping-women-with-hiv-build-strength-as-they-age/

8.      Liver Disease in Women With HIV: A New Study May Change Our Clinical Considerations https://www.thebodypro.com/hiv/liver-disease-sld-steatosis-prevalence-women-oct-2026

9.      CDC funding for HIV prevention shifted from providers to states under Trump https://www.npr.org/2026/10/06/nx-s1-5979888/cdc-funding-for-hiv-prevention-shifted-from-providers-to-states-under-trump

1. Shortages of crucial HIV medicines due to aid cuts are a ‘warning’, say experts Shortages of crucial HIV medicines due to aid cuts are a ‘warning’, say experts | Global health | The Guardian

1. Latinos Confront the Realities of HIV in the United States https://www.poz.com/article/latinos-confront-realities-hiv-united-states

1. Breaking Through Stigma, Silence and Barriers to Care https://www.poz.com/article/breaking-stigma-silence-barriers-care

1. Unexpected viral rebound with GLP-1 weight loss drugs in HIV study Unexpected viral rebound with GLP-1 weight loss drugs in HIV study | HIV i-Base

1. HIV linked to greater increase in cardiovascular disease risk for women than men HIV linked to greater increase in cardiovascular disease risk for women than men | aidsmap

1. U.S. Poised To Boot Legal Immigrants From Medicaid, Including Refugees and Sex-Trafficking Victims https://www.poz.com/article/us-poised-boot-legal-immigrants-medicaid-including-refugees-sextrafficking-victims

1. Aging With HIV: Is Care Keeping Up With Changing Needs? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/aging-hiv-care-keeping-changing-needs-2026a10010g5

1. The Power of Coalition Advocacy https://avac.org/blog/latest-resources-power-of-coalition-advocacy/

1. Lenacapavir for HIV Treatment vs Prevention: Avoiding Pharmacy Dispensing Errors https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/lenacapavir-for-hiv-treatment-vs-prevention-avoiding-pharmacy-dispensing-errors

1. The Importance of Being Connected https://www.poz.com/article/importance-connected

1. POZ Awards 2026 https://www.poz.com/magazine/poz-awards-2026

Had my biannual "meet and greet" with my PCP (primary care physician) today. After labs, I went up to the admin level to see if I could set up an appointment with the lady who renews my Ryan White grant every year.

I knew she could help me understand what I have to connect to as I shift from Medicaid to Medicare. It's a bit of a labyrinth, but there are many helpful folks along the way, provided you initiate contact.

I must have appeared distressed, because she stopped me mid-explanation and gestured for me to move in for a hug. And we had a mini-moment of "It's OK, I'm here to help." Quiet and calm and a reset.

You know what? That was exactly what I needed. She MADE me call the number on the sheet in her office, then set up an appointment with her colleague to review my sign-up options for Part D and G or N, which I think I need. And possibly a bit extra from that state to help cover costs.

I've been seeing her for over a decade, about once a year, to renew my paperwork and keep my Rx costs down. She's so warm and wonderful. She radiates peace and empathy. I can't recall meeting someone more matched for the role they fill.

That hug was so unexpected... and so appreciated. So many amazing humans still around. #grateful

Hello everyone

I just saw a video saying that men living with hiv have +13 years physiologically than their real age and women +11. There is any way to turn this? I felt like clock started to tickle faster now that I know this

The medication that we use have an impact in the way we age faster than the others? The trials that pharmaceutical industry does shouldn’t be longer to truly monitor how we are affected by this medications in long term (+30 years for exemple)? Does going to the gym multiple times per week, eating good, stop smoking, drinking and taking drugs stop the chronic inflammation?

Hi all! This is my first time posting in this thread. I plan on sharing my story on how I ended up with HIV, and all the things that took place, but I wanted to first talk about something that’s been weighing on my mind throughout this year involving a relationship was in, and hopefully you all can provide some insight. For info about me, I am a 24 year-old Black, Transgender Woman in North Carolina.

So earlier this year, in June, a person, (his code name will be bob) I have been seeing as a friend with benefits, we started becoming a little closer and more serious Every time we met. for context, bob and I have been hooking up since the end of 2023 up until that point in June 2026. we originally met through Grindr, and would hook up on and off throughout those two years until we realized we really liked each other presence and energy and wanted to take things in a more serious direction after going on a date or two.

Fast-forward to a night bob came over, we did the do, and on his way out. He saw a medicine bottle on my counter. Initially, I thought it was my allergy medicine because all of my medicine comes in the same bottle. Well, obviously, it wasn’t just allergy medicine hence this post lol, turns out it was my HIV medication, Dovato

On his way out. Bob asked me what this bottle was for and I said would medicine because I would never leave my expensive as Life medicine on the counter, but of course, I did this day, and he took no of the name mentally, and when he got in his car, looked up the medication, and proceeded to go absolutely ballistic on me through text and phone. Call asking why I haven’t lying to him, and why I didn’t tell him this information, and that he can never trust me again, but here is the kicker:

1. I definitely had my undetectable status in my Grindr bio, when we met. I also was pretty sure that I brought it up again to make it known to avoid situations like this one. right After this confrontation happened, I checked my account to see that I had that information in my bio, and it absolutely did, there is a slim Chance that it wasn’t in my bio two years ago, but I remember being pretty Open about talking about my status with everyone that wanted to know.

2. I have been undetectable fully for five years consistently. Now I get tested every other month, and I have missed six days in total of my medicine sporadically in these five years, I shared my results with him, did as best as I can to educate him on everything, and the next day I even went and got screamed for every STD possible, and came back with a Complete bill of health, he still decided to end things stating he cannot trust me ever, and that it sucks because he was really starting to fall in love with me

3. And the state of North Carolina if you are undetectable for a certain amount of time, you are not required to tell anyone about your status because the transmission possibility is ridiculously low like less than 1%. I told him that when he tried to threaten to Sue me, and I was 100% sure. I told him about my status before we linked.

And the recent years. However, I have been going to therapy and psychiatry appointments and found out I have some Really bad undiagnosed PTSD surrounding my Sex A that I have fully blocked out anything regarding HIV, especially around sex, so I begin to have really strong second thoughts that I even mentioned anything in the first place, it’s not like I chose to be SA’d but I would quite literally die. If I exposed anyone to what I have to had to go through mentally the last five years.

I think I covered everything, but did I do something wrong in the situation? I did my best to be very upfront about everything. Knowing that now I might have some unconscious, locked away, emotions, feelings, and conversations around HIV, would that Still justify all the harm he caused me and weeks of crying for something I didn’t do to myself? I apologize over and over, I was willing to do anything, but I don’t know what to do in a situation, do you guys have any guidance?

Estou confusa, fiz uma publicação aqui no Reddit perguntando sobre o medicamento para uma viagem em Dubai (ficarei apenas 5 dias) eu vi que alguns conseguiram passar tranquilo pela alfândega, mas, em sites dizem que é proibido a entrada dos medicamentos. Alguém já passou por isso?