Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.

Left untreated, HIV can cause severe infections and death.

HIV is easily treatable, so it is important you know how to test, and how to reduce your risk of getting HIV.

You can get HIV from:

• anal or vaginal sex without a condom (if the person you have sex with has untreated HIV).
• sharing drug works (needles, filters, spoons and syringes) where a person has untreated HIV.
• mother to child in pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding if the mother does not know her HIV status, and she is not on treatment.

Many people do not have symptoms.

When people first get HIV, they can get a flu-like illness or ‘seroconversion illness’.  They may notice other things such as: diarrhoea, rash, headache, fever, muscle aches and pains, sore throat and tiredness.

If people do not get the symptoms mentioned above, HIV can go unnoticed in the body for many years, until the immune system has weakened. During this time, HIV can be passed on to others through sex, sharing drug works, and to children if you do not test in pregnancy.

Later on, untreated HIV can cause severe life-threatening infections, cancer and death.

HIV is easily treatable, so it is important you know how to test, and how to reduce your risk of getting HIV.

This can be done by a routine blood test at Leeds Sexual Health. Please use the service finder below to find a testing location near you.

For people scared of needles, we can do a rapid finger prick blood test which gives a result in 10 to 20 minutes.

You can also get a test with your GP, and if admitted to hospital may be offered a blood test for HIV there.

You can also visit Yorkshire MESMAC who offer rapid finger prick blood tests at their city centre location.

It can take up to 6 weeks for HIV to show up on a blood test, so it is important to test 6 to 12 weeks after a new risk (possible exposure).

HIV is easily treated with tablets, and some people can be treated with injections they are suitable.

If you have tested positive for HIV, Leeds Sexual Health will refer you to your local HIV care provider. In Leeds, Dewsbury or Wakefild, this is provided by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Please see their website for more information: Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust: HIV Outpatient service

When a person is newly diagnosed with HIV, we understand this can be a scary process.  We will support you to ensure those who need a test around you are offered one, this can be done anonymously (without sharing your information).

Once a person is taking HIV treatment regularly, the HIV virus in the blood becomes undetectable.  When a person has been undetectable for 6 months, and they continue to take treatment, the HIV virus cannot transmit to others (Undetectable = Untransmittable).

PEP is used to try to prevent a person from getting HIV after they may have been exposed to the HIV virus and it must be started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours from risk.

Learn more via our PEP page.

PrEP (which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a course of anti-HIV drugs that you can take before sex to reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Learn more via our PrEP page

Women and PrEP

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

If you need further information about opening times and how to contact us please visit the contact us page.