HIV

9 Best Relationship Advice - If You Have HIV or AIDS

Martin

Jul 31, 2012 — 3 min read

Relationship Advice If You Have the HIV Infection

If diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and in a relationship, the important thing to remember is that your relationship is built on a lot more than HIV.

Foundations of good relationships include trust, honesty, love, kindness, respect, and mutual sharing.

HIV or AIDS in a relationship — You’re fighting for something bigger than an illness
Remember?

Whether you have HIV or not, if these foundations flounder, the relationship may not last. That’s the first, and most important, piece of relationship advice to consider.

Strengthening your relationship values enhances the quality of your togetherness during good and hard times.

About HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a retrovirus infection that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Some people are carriers of the infection. Others have latent HIV and have not developed AIDS because the infection’s viral DNA is dormant.

The condition may progress to AIDS which is an increasing failure of the body’s immune system. The body’s vital cells become infected, preventing healthy recovery from infections and diseases.

During pre-AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, the body’s immune system still functions. However, when AIDS is diagnosed, damage to the immune system is fatal and life-threatening diseases, including cancers, set in.

The origin of the virus is thought to be transmitted from primates to humans. It was further spread through unprotected sexual intercourse (not using a condom) and sharing of infected drug needles.

HIV may be transmitted through exchange of bodily fluids. This can alsoinclude during birth and from breast milk.

There is no known cure however, symptoms may be treated.

Symptoms may include aching muscles and joints, sore throat and fever, and swollen glands.

Thrush (candidiasis), nail fungi, rashes, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue, may be experienced. Other illnesses may cause additional symptoms.

Antiretroviral medication taken daily slows down the impact on the immune system. Other medications and supplements may interact with this medication so medical advice should be sought in this regard.

People infected need to consume a healthy diet, do regular exercise, not smoke, and live healthy lifestyles.

Flu vaccines and 5-yearly Pneumococcal vaccines help to reduce the risk of contraction.

How Human Immunodeficiency Virus impacts Relationships

magic and cookie johnson surviving HIV — Famed NBA player, Magic Johnson and wife, Cookie
Managing HIV successfully, after 19 years – that’s living!

Living with HIV and managing the symptoms is a way of life. So please do consider the following relationship advice precisely:

Relationships may be affected in psychological, emotional, mental, health, physical, sexual ways, economic and financial ways.

There may be differences if one or both partners are infected with HIV, such as using a condom if one partner is not infected. Depending on the stage of HIV infection development and its impact on the immune system, care plans may need to be put in place for medical care as the disease progresses.

A person with a viral infection who falls pregnant is highly likely to transmit the infection to the unborn baby.

Persons with HIV, experience life limitations that may be frustrating or impact self-confidence:

Not able to donate blood or organs
May need to declare their infected status to employers
Not able to join the armed forces
Need to disclose Human Immunodeficiency Virus status in mortgage and insurance applications

Managing Human Immunodeficiency Virus positively in relationships includes: