Now, more than ever, we have a range of tools available in Ireland to prevent HIV acquisitions, and to end new HIV transmissions.
HIV can be prevented. Learn about the options available and decide what works best for you.
HIV can be prevented by:
- Condoms: Using condoms every time you have vaginal and anal sex, and using condoms (or dental dams) every time you have oral sex.
- PEP: an emergency treatment that must be taken within 72 hours if you have had an exposure to HIV (such as sex without using a condom or PrEP, or a needle stick injury).
- PrEP: a medication taken by HIV-negative people to reduce the chance of getting HIV from having sex without a condom and from sharing needles or equipment to inject or use drugs.
- Testing: get tested regularly and know your HIV status, so you can ensure you are using the right prevention option for you.
- HIV Treatment as Prevention: The goal of HIV treatment is to suppress the virus to ‘undetectable’ levels. HIV cannot be transmitted through sex when a person living with HIV is on effective HIV treatment and has an undetectable viral load. Undetectable=Untransmittable or U=U.
- Safer Injecting: if you are injecting drugs or steroids, use clean injecting equipment. Access needle exchange services and don’t share your needles or other drug using equipment.
Education: keep yourself informed about HIV, your sexual health, and harm reduction and prevention options so you can make the best choices for you.
If you have any questions, or would like to speak to someone about HIV, we are happy to help.
Our Community Support team provides a range of support services for people living with HIV, and our MPOWER outreach team provides support to gay and bisexual men.