Why get HIV care

HIV care keeps you healthy

• An HIV care provider prescribes medication that controls your viral load. Viral load means the amount of HIV activity in your body.
• Once you have controlled your HIV viral load, your immune system can function normally. This keeps you healthy long-term.
• Your HIV care provider will continue to monitor your health and ensure that the medication is working. If an HIV medication ever stops working for you, your provider can help you find a different medication that will work for you.

HIV care keeps your partner/s healthy

• Once you have had an undetectable viral load while taking HIV medication for at least 6 months, there is no longer any risk of HIV transmission when you have sex.
• We call this "Undetectable = Untransmittable," or "U=U".

Learn more about how an undetectable viral load prevents HIV transmission:

• Watch a video
• Read an informational handout