The information related to HIV infection that many people still carry is often from 20-30 years ago — medical progress in recent decades has radically changed both the management of the infection and its prevention capabilities.
Modern management: from HIV to chronic conditions
The development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic condition, not necessarily a fatal diagnosis. With appropriate and consistent treatment, most HIV-positive people can achieve an "undetectable" viral load—a state that allows for long, healthy lives.
U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable
There is a scientifically proven principle that the medical community (including the CDC) actively promotes: When an HIV-positive person's viral load is consistently undetectable as a result of treatment, it is virtually impossible to transmit the virus sexually. This is known as the U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) principle, proven by many years of large-scale studies (including the PARTNER series of studies).
PrEP: Prevention before infection
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that HIV-negative people take regularly to protect themselves from infection — according to health organizations (including the CDC), when taken correctly and consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of sexual transmission of HIV by more than 99%. It is an additional tool, not a replacement, for condoms.
What PrEP doesn't do
It's important to understand: PrEP protects only against HIV, not other STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, etc.) — PrEP recipients still need to be regularly screened for other infections and, preferably, use condoms for additional protection.
PEP: Post-exposure prophylaxis
Unlike PrEP (which is pre-exposure prophylaxis), PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is used after potential exposure — it is effective if started within 72 hours of possible exposure, and requires a 28-day course of medication under the supervision of a doctor. The sooner it is started, the higher the effectiveness.
Myth: "HIV only affects certain groups"
Historically, HIV has been associated with specific social groups, which has created a dangerous false sense of "immunity" in others—in reality, the risk of HIV transmission depends on specific behaviors (unprotected sex, shared injection drug use), not on identity or group affiliation.
Testing as a first step
Knowing your HIV status—whether positive or negative—is the basis for all subsequent decisions: early treatment initiation in the event of a positive result significantly improves long-term prognosis, while confirmation of a negative status helps to make an informed decision about the need for PrEP.
Reducing stigma
HIV-related stigma is often a bigger barrier to testing and treatment than the medical issues themselves. Open, fact-based conversations — including awareness of the U=U principle and the availability of PrEP — help communities move from fear-based attitudes to informed, practical approaches.