The transmission of HIV is still happening in Australia and can affect anyone.
Homosexuals and bisexual men in Australia use prevention to stop the transmission of HIV to the community. It is a good idea to use HIV protection every time you have sex to stay protected.
Are you young in Australia? Are you a man who has sex with men? Read this article to find out about HIV in Australia so you can protect yourself and the community.
Read Hub Hub for more information about HIV in your language (available in Chinese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese).
Visit HIV multicultural service and hepatitis For information in Arabic, Indonesian and Portuguese.
In this article:
Basic events
- HIV is a virus that still exists in Australia.
- Most new cases are between homosexuals and bisexual men who have anal sex without protection from HIV.
- People living with HIV who stay in treatment can live a long and healthy life.
- Conditions are a great way to avoid HIV and there are other ways (such as Prep and undetectable viral load).
- It is common for homosexuals and bisexual men to be tested for HIV every three months.
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that affects the immune system.
How is HIV spread?
HIV is spreading when some body fluids with HIV introduce the person’s circulation. HIV virus is only in:
- semen (cum)
- blood
- anal
- breast
- The vaginal and front hole liquids.
The most common way in which HIV spread is through anal sex without HIV prevention.
You cannot get HIV from kissing, touching or sharing diet.
Most of the HIV transmission occurs when the person does not know they have HIV. You can’t say if someone has a HIV looking at them.
Is HIV common in Australia?
HIV is here in Australia. There are 30,000 people living with HIV virus. Almost all of these people (97%) are treated with HIV. Stay in treatment keeps people healthy and prevents HIV from transmitting. People living with HIV who stay in treatment can live a long and healthy life.
In 2023, 722 people were diagnosed with HIV in Australia. Most new cases are between homosexuals and bisexual men who have anal sex without protection from HIV.
How do men in Australia prevent HIV transmission?
Most homosexuals and bisexual men use HIV prevention strategies when having sex. Using a HIV protection strategy every time you have sex is a great way to avoid HIV. Before having sex, you might want to talk to your partner about preventing the HIV that you will both use.
There are many ways to stay healthy. They all include HIV tests regularly and by choosing a HIV prevention option that works for you.
Test for HIV virus
It is common here for sexually active homosexual men to be tested for HIV every three months. If you have sex, we recommend trying for HIV virus and other sexually transmitted infections! There are many ways to try for HIV in Australia.
HIV Self-Strong Kit
You can buy a HIV self-testing kit in a pharmacy or chemical. You don’t need Medicare card.
You can order a free trial in Hivtest.au. Will be delivered to your home in a simple package. The test is private and can be done at home. The instructions are:
- English
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Malaysian
- Spanish
- Vietnamese.
Sexual health services
You can visit a sexual health center for an HIV test. We have a map here.
- The test is usually free. Check their website or reception about costs.
- You don’t need Medicare card
- HIV test results are confidential. This means that only you and your doctor will know about your results. You can also make your appointment with a different name.
- You can get free Interpreter services To have your appointment in your language.
Your doctor
If you have a doctor (sometimes called GP or General Practitioner), they can also give you a HIV test. There may be costs for a test with your doctor.
Using condoms
Some types in Australia use condoms to be protected from HIV. Conditions also help prevent certain sexually transmitted infections (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis).
Using a condom correctly every time you have sex is a great way to avoid HIV. Make sure you are using:
- Lubricant (water -based)
- A condom with no slits, holes or breaking on it
- A new condom every time you have sex.
Conditions are cheap and easy to use. You can buy them in supermarkets and pharmacies. You can also receive free condoms in sexual health services and some organizations.
Taking preparation (precaution before exposure)
Pre -Reporting Prior to Report (PREP) It is a medicine that protects you from getting HIV. It is common for some homosexuals and bisexual men in Australia to get preparation.
- To start taking preparation, you must try for HIV.
- You have to get a prescription for a doctor’s preparation.
- You don’t need Medicare
- There is free preparation For people who cannot afford it.
Taking HIV treatment and maintaining an undetectable viral load (UVL)
Taking treatment with HIV, people living with HIV in Australia can live a long and healthy life.
- Over the treatment, children can get a “undetectable viral load (UVL)”.
- Also called ‘undetectable’ or ‘undetectable = non -transferable (u = u)’.
- Being ‘undetectable’ means that the amount of virus in their bodies decreases so low that HIV tests cannot show it.
- If one is ‘undetectable’, they are not cured, but they cannot transmit HIV to someone else.
HIV treatment is free in most states, even if you are in a visa and do not have Medicare. You can get HIV treatment in public hospital pharmacies around Australia.
Starting treatment will quickly help you protect your long -term health.
Using PEP (after exposure) in emergency situations
Post -exposure (PEP) is used in an emergency to stop HIV infection after exposure to HIV. A report can occur if a condom breaks or if you do not use protection during sex.
PEP is a 28 -day daily medication you get after exposure to HIV. It starts better within 72 hours (3 days) than sex and ideally, as soon as possible.
The PEP is different from the Prep, which is taken before sex to prevent HIV.
You can get PEP in public hospital pharmacies and sexual health services without Medicare card.
It is a good idea to use a method of preventing HIV (condoms, prep or UVL) every time you have sex. Talk to your partner before sex about the protection you are using both. The HIV virus test every three months will help you protect yourself and the community.
For more information on HIV, read our knowledge hub, available in:
If you speak Arabic, Indonesian or Portuguese, visit the HIV multicultural service and hepatitis.
Close the first HIV test here.
