What is HIV?
Learn how HIV affects the body, the difference between HIV and AIDS, and why early testing and care matter.
Read the essential facts →LEARN · PREVENT · PLAN · CARE
Know your status. Shape your prevention and care.
Straight answers about HIV, testing, prevention, and treatment— with practical ways to find the support you need.
START WITH YOUR SITUATION
What would help right now?
You do not need to know the medical words. Choose the situation that feels closest to yours.
01↗02↗03↗04↗
Time-sensitive
I may have been exposed
Learn about PEP and where to seek urgent assessment.Testing
I want to get tested
Understand test types, timing, and what results mean.Prevention
I’m interested in PrEP
See how PrEP works and prepare to speak with a provider.Support
I received a positive result
Find calm, practical first steps and treatment information.UNDERSTAND HIV
Clear facts. No fear. No blame.
HIV is a virus that affects the immune system. Today, effective prevention and treatment give people many ways to protect their health and live well.
How HIV does—and does not—spread
Understand the routes that can transmit HIV and the everyday contact that cannot.
Explore transmission →Two terms, different meanings
HIV is the virus. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV when it is not treated.
Understand the difference →HIV TESTING
Testing turns uncertainty into a plan.
The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Different tests have different window periods, so timing and test type both matter.
Explore testing servicesBEFORE YOU TEST
- 1Think about timing
No test detects HIV immediately after exposure.
- 2Know the test
Ask which type of HIV test will be used.
- 3Plan the follow-up
Find out when to retest and what each result means.
PREVENTION THAT FITS REAL LIFE
More than one way to prevent HIV.
The right option can depend on what happened, what feels practical, and what support is available to you.
BEFORE EXPOSURE
PrEP
Medicine that greatly reduces the chance of getting HIV when taken as prescribed.Explore PrEP →AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURE
PEP
Emergency medicine that must be started within 72 hours. The sooner, the better.See urgent PEP steps →SEXUAL HEALTH
Condoms & STI care
Condoms, lubricant, and regular STI testing can be part of a broader prevention plan.Build your prevention plan →TREATMENT & LIVING WELL
Treatment works. A full life is possible.
HIV treatment lowers the amount of virus in the body, protects the immune system, and helps people living with HIV stay healthy.
U=U
Undetectable = Untransmittable
A person living with HIV who takes treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load does not transmit HIV through sex.
Learn more about U=U →LIVING WITH HIV
You are more than a diagnosis.
FIND SERVICES
Turn information into care.
Choose the kind of support you need. Local directories and booking links can be connected here before launch.
Service directory integration is planned for the next build.FROM THE BLOG
Practical reads for real questions.
Short, grounded articles that turn HIV information into a clear next step.
View all articles →Which situations carry HIV risk? Look at the event, not the person
A plain-language way to assess a possible HIV exposure without judging anyone by their appearance, identity or relationship.
Worried after a possible HIV exposure? Care for your mind and plan the next step
A calm plan for handling urgent health decisions, the wait for testing and the thoughts that can make uncertainty feel overwhelming.
Person-centred HIV care: what it means in real life
A practical explanation of care designed around your needs, preferences, identity and daily life—not only a diagnosis or clinic routine.
Community-led HIV services: more than services in the community
Community-led means affected communities help govern, design, deliver and evaluate the response—not simply that a service is located outside a hospital.
Status-neutral HIV care: one entry point, a useful next step for everyone
A status-neutral approach starts with the whole person and connects people to prevention, treatment and wider support regardless of the test result.
Differentiated HIV service delivery: care that adapts to real life
DSD changes the way services are delivered—such as visit frequency, pickup location or provider—while maintaining safe clinical standards.
RRTTR and RRTTPR: understanding Thailand's HIV service pathway
A plain-language guide to the Thai cascade connecting outreach, entry into services, testing, treatment, prevention and continued care.
How to choose an HIV testing clinic that fits your needs
Seven practical checks to compare HIV testing services by privacy, test type, cost, appointment times and support after your result.
PrEP cost: what to ask before you book an appointment
A practical way to compare the cost of PrEP medicine, tests, follow-up and real-life access before you start.
PrEP for HIV prevention: choose an option that fits your life
A person-centred guide to what PrEP does, available methods, tests before starting, follow-up, and questions that help you choose confidently.
First HIV test: how to prepare and what to expect
A practical, judgment-free guide to choosing a testing option, preparing for the visit, and leaving with a clear next step.
HIV test results: negative, reactive, positive, and invalid
What each HIV test result means, what it does not mean, and the safest next step based on the test and its timing.
HIV self-test guide: how to use a kit and what comes next
A step-by-step guide to choosing an approved kit, preparing a private space, reading the result, and arranging follow-up.
POPULAR QUESTIONS
Questions people ask every day.
Short answers first, with a clear path to more detail and human support.
How soon should I get an HIV test after a possible exposure?+
No HIV test can detect HIV immediately. The right time depends on the test you take, so ask the testing provider which test is being used and when you may need to test again.
What is the difference between PrEP and PEP?+
PrEP is used before possible exposure as ongoing prevention. PEP is an emergency option used after a possible exposure and must be started quickly.
Does an undetectable viral load prevent sexual transmission?+
Yes. A person living with HIV who takes treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load does not transmit HIV through sex. This is known as U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable.
Can people living with HIV live a long, healthy life?+
Yes. HIV treatment lowers the amount of virus in the body, protects the immune system, and helps people living with HIV stay healthy.
OUR CONTENT STANDARD
Information you can understand and trust.
This prototype uses current CDC information and the supplied editorial framework. Country-specific clinical guidance, services, costs, and emergency pathways require local medical review before publication.