Topics

Here you will find information about living with HIV. Topics from the fields of medicine, everyday life and law explained briefly and concisely. Is a topic missing? Contact us using the form and let us know what you would like us to cover.

  • 40 years of community leadership

    Celebrating 40 years of community leadership in the fight against AIDS is bittersweet. Despite the fact that community leadership is considered to be of great political importance - including the goals of the UN General Assembly Political Declaration - there is still insufficient funding for action. At the same time, communities are under attack in some countries and civil society space is restricted in many places, partly due to a lack of funding. This makes real ownership and leadership impossible. However, we also see vulnerability and resilience. In some countries, the new conservative governments are deliberately closing down all spaces where communities were previously based. Against this backdrop, the evidence for the effectiveness and necessity of community leadership is growing.

  • Trans Men and HIV

    Trans persons face severe HIV-related challenges, with trans men gender diverse individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) significantly overlooked in the global HIV response. Despite a significant need for specific responses, a persistent and often falls believe that trans men and AFAB gender diverse have a low risk of acquiring HIV has led to exclusion from critical health strategies. Emerging data and advocacy efforts aim to correct this disparity and foster inclusion.

  • HIV and mental health

    Ein holistischer Ansatz bei der Behandlung von HIV ist angesichts der hohen Prävalenz psychischer Belastungen bei Menschen mit HIV von entscheidender Bedeutung.

  • Community Insight

    Thousands of activists, experts, researchers and healthcare providers from all over the world will gather in the Bavarian capital to present and discuss the latest advances in HIV research and treatment.

  • Colonial laws

    How British colonial-era laws are hampering the fight against HIV in the Caribbean and Latin America.

  • Travelling with HIV

    Off on holiday? Here are the most important tips for travelling with HIV!

  • Listicle

    5 questions for your appointment with a healthcare professional about your HIV treatment

  • "Honey, I'm living with HIV!"

    Today, a healthy and long life with HIV is possible with early diagnosis and subsequent treatment and therapy without any problems. This knowledge is not yet widespread among the population, and there are many prejudices against people with HIV. with HIV. This does not make it easy to talk about HIV infection. Various topics are listed below where psychotherapy can have a supportive effect. It also deals with when and with whom you can talk about your diagnosis and how.

  • Women with HIV: viral load after childbirth

    As of 2018, HIV-infected women with undetectable viral load can breastfeed in Switzerland if they wish. In these cases, postnatal monitoring is essential. However, despite a suppressed viral load at delivery, several studies have reported low adherence to HIV monitoring and insufficiently suppressed viral load after delivery.

  • Weight gain due to HIV medication?

    A much-discussed topic in HIV research is the question of whether certain HIV drugs lead to weight gain. In fact, various studies indicate that there is a link between taking the HIV drugs tenofovir alafenamide and dolutegravir and weight gain.

  • Aging with HIV: challenges and resources to stay healthy

    Ageing brings individual challenges for everyone, but for people living with HIV, additional considerations and adjustments may be required. In this article, we look at specific aspects that older people living with HIV should consider, from medical considerations to social aspects and community support. A non-exhaustive list.

  • New in Switzerland

    Are you living with HIV and will soon or have recently moved to Switzerland? You can find all the important information here.

  • Who can help me?

    Finding the right medical specialist is very important. Only an HIV specialist can assess the progression of the HIV infection and select the right medication at the right time.

  • HIV diagnosis - What now?

    Have you recently found out that you are living with HIV? This diagnosis initially comes as a shock to many people. Today, thanks to HIV medication, HIV is one of the most treatable chronic infections.

  • Health insurance

    It is compulsory to have health insurance. This compulsory basic insurance covers all costs that are necessary for the treatment of HIV.

  • Outside Switzerland/Travel

    Some countries have travel restrictions for people with HIV. Find out about these restrictions before you travel and make sure you take enough medication with you. It is important for you to know what vaccinations you require and what health insurance you will have abroad.

  • Life insurance

    Most of those living with HIV have a virtually normal life expectancy if they being treated with antiretroviral therapy. This means that there is no longer any justification for those with HIV to be excluded from life insurance.

  • Disability Insurance

    Anyone who is at risk of being unable to work as a result of illness or who becomes wholly or partially unable to work, is entitled to benefits from the disability insurance.

  • Labour Law (Employers)

    How can I provide support for an employee living with HIV? Who needs to know that an employee is HIV-positive? This is where you will find all that you, as an employer, need to know about HIV in the workplace.

  • Labour law (Employees)

    Often, being infected with HIV does not affect a person's ability to work, and there are no jobs that are barred to someone who has been diagnosed with HIV.

  • Criminal liability for passing on HIV

    Anyone who is in effective treatment, who has protected sex, or who tells their sexual partners that they have HIV is now no longer liable to criminal prosecution.

  • Confidentiality

    Protecting personal privacy is particularly important to people living with HIV. They still face discrimination in various areas of life, and therefore often prefer to disclose health-related information only when it is absolutely necessary.

  • Healthy in everyday life

    Both the HIV infection itself and the HIV therapy can put a strain on your body. With effective therapy and a healthy lifestyle, you have a high quality of life and life expectancy – similar to that of people without HIV.

  • Family Planning

    Being HIV-positive does not mean that you cannot be a parent. Antiretroviral therapy has brought huge improvements to life expectancy and quality of life for those living with HIV. Now, it is almost always possible to prevent the risk of transmission to your partner or to the baby.

  • Relationships and sex life

    Being diagnosed as HIV-positive doesn't mean that you have to give up on relationships and sex. Find out here how you can protect against passing HIV on to your partner.

  • Talking about HIV

    When you find out that you are HIV-positive, it makes sense to tell your sexual partners about your diagnosis. They can then get tested and, if necessary, start treatment in good time. By speaking up, you prevent the infection being passed on unknowingly.

  • HIV and mental health

    Physical and mental well-being go hand in hand. Anyone who is HIV-positive should therefore take care of their mental health.

  • Co-infections

    If HIV-positive people become infected with another sexually transmitted infection, this will often follow a worse clinical course and be more difficult to treat than in HIV-negative people. Furthermore the risk of HIV transmission is markedly higher.

  • Tests and investigations

    Regular medical check-ups are important for people with HIV. Their purpose is to assess the state of health, the progress of the HIV infection and the effectiveness of the treatment.

  • HIV-positive and no longer infectious?

    People with HIV can not pass on the virus if they follow their therapy as prescribed, and their viral load is below the detectable threshold. This means that they can have unprotected sex, without worrying that they will infect their partner.

  • HIV treatment

    HIV treatment promotes health and supports quality of life, which is why it is important to start the treatment promptly and not wait too long. Effective treatment also prevents the transmission of HIV to sexual partners.

  • Progress of infection

    HIV attacks the immune system and weakens it over a long period of time. As a result, the immune system is no longer able to fulfil its function – defending against disease-causing pathogens.

  • “HIV-positive” diagnosis

    An HIV-positive diagnosis does not mean that you are already suffering from AIDS, or that you are certain to develop it. It does mean, however, that you need to take action to protect your own health and the health of your partner.