What is HIV/AIDS?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted through unprotected penetrative sex (anal or vaginal) and sometimes through unprotected oral sex involving a penis or a vulva during menstruating period. It is also transmitted through blood when sharing drug paraphernalia, or when using non-sterile tattooing or piercing equipment. Transmission can also occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

HIV is not transmitted through everyday actions, such as sneezing, greeting kisses, skin-to-skin contact, or by using public toilets or drinking from the same glass.

Undetectable = untransmittable: if the viral load is undetectable,* there is no real risk of transmission. For more information, you can read our article entirely dedicated to sexuality and intimacy when living with HIV.

*Viral load refers to the amount of virus present in a person’s blood. When it is undetectable, it means that the viral load is below the detection threshold. In Quebec, this threshold has been established at less than 200 copies/ml.

It is possible to have no symptoms. Symptoms, when present, may also go unnoticed. A person can therefore be infected without knowing it.

HIV's three phases

• The first phase, called primary infection, occurs two to four weeks after infection. At this time, the following symptoms appear and last for three weeks: flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain), mouth ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, flushing of the chest and face, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe weight loss. These symptoms can also go unnoticed.
  

• The second phase is asymptomatic, meaning that the symptoms may fade or even disappear altogether, but the virus remains in the body and can still be transmitted. If left untreated, this phase can last for more than ten years in some people.
  

• The third phase is symptomatic, with symptoms appearing as the immune system weakens. These symptoms may include chronic fatigue, night sweats, fever, diarrhea, and significant weight loss.

HIV attacks the immune system. Over time, if the infection remains untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS, which stands for “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome”. Individuals who contract HIV live with the virus permanently, though they don't always develop AIDS. AIDS occurs after the three stages of HIV, when opportunistic infections take advantage of the weakened immune system. These infections have varying symptoms and can be potentially fatal if treatment is not pursued. Today, HIV-positive people who receive adequate treatment have a quality of life and life expectancy comparable to those of HIV-negative people.

Screening is done through a blood test.

While there is no cure for HIV, there are drugs available that control the virus’s replication, which reduces the risk of transmission and slows or even prevents the infection’s progression toward AIDS. Medication and consistent medical follow-up can even make a person’s viral load undetectable, thereby eliminating the risk of transmission.

To learn more about HIV or get access to resources and support, we recommend you visit COCQ-Sida’s (available in French only) or CATIE’s website.