Despite improvement in HIV/AIDS education, misinformation persists around transmission, testing, and treatment. Our mission is to dispel these myths and offer accurate information. Here, we share some common thoughts and facts that often surface in our classrooms on HIV/AIDS...

1) You don’t automatically get HIV if you have sex with someone who has it

There's a chance of passing on HIV through some kinds of sex. But taking effective medication for HIV means you can't pass it on. Anti-HIV medication reduces the amount of HIV infection in the body (the 'viral load'). If the viral load is very low it is 'undetectable' and can't be passed on.

2) People who have HIV can still make babies

HIV can be passed from person-to-person through body fluids (like semen), or from a pregnant person to their baby. If someone with HIV is taking effective medication, it reduces the amount of HIV in their body (the 'viral load'). Having a low viral load means that you can't pass on HIV, including through sex or pregnancy.

3) You can pass on HIV through different kinds of sex

Some people tell us they think of HIV as something that only gay men get. But HIV can be passed on from person to person of any sexuality. That's because it can be passed on through different types of sex, where one person's body fluids (e.g. semen or blood) come into contact with another person's body.

4) HIV is not just an issue in low-income countries

Many people believe that HIV/AIDS is confined to low-income countries, particularly in 'African countries.' These views not only perpetuate stereotypes and racist assumptions but also overlook the historical and ongoing inequalities often rooted in colonialism that contribute to the epidemic in these regions. While HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects certain regions with limited resources, it's important to recognise that HIV/AIDs is a global health concern that affects people from all walks of life.

For example, the annual official statistics data release reported “the number of HIV diagnoses in England rose by 22% from 3,118 in 2021 to 3,805 in 2022”.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in wealthier countries is often overshadowed by the stigmatisation of regions with fewer resources, but in reality the virus continues to be a global health challenge.

5) Condoms are not the only way to reduce the chance of passing on HIV

Barrier protection like condoms can help to reduce the chance of passing on HIV from person to person through different types of sex. But this is not the only way! Someone can take medication either before (PrEP) or after (PEP) they think they might have come into contact with HIV.

6) HIV is different from AIDS

Although these things are related, they are not quite the same thing! HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus - is the name of the infection. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name of the condition caused by HIV, where there is a lot of the virus in the body and someone's immune system is very weak. With effective medication, an HIV infection can be managed so that it doesn't ever progress to AIDS. So everyone who has AIDS also has an HIV infection, but not everyone who has HIV goes on to develop AIDS. In places like the UK, where many people have free access to anti-HIV medication, most people with HIV do not have AIDS.

7) You can't pass on HIV through social contact

HIV is passed on by one person's body fluids (like blood, semen or fluid from the vagina, but not saliva or spit) getting inside another person. This can be done through some kinds of sex - for example sex involving a penis penetrating a vagina or anus. It can't be passed from skin-to-skin contact (e.g. shaking hands) or through body fluids like spit, tears, poo or wee (e.g. through kissing or oral sex).

8) You can have HIV without showing symptoms

Sometimes people assume they'll be able to tell if they get HIV because they'll have symptoms of it. But you can have HIV for a long time (often months) without showing signs. The best way to know whether or not you've got HIV, if you've had sex where there's a chance of it being passed on, is through STI testing (see below).

HIV Testing is easy and straightforward! You can get tested via

An NHS sexual health clinic
A HIV testing centre
Your GP
A HIV self-testing kit - takes a few minutes and involves a finger-prick!
Postal testing kit

Further information

Our book ‘Sex Ed: An Inclusive Teenage Guide to Sex and Relationships’  is out now.