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What is HIV?

HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus medical researchers believe causes AIDS. Since the vast majority of researchers believe that HIV is the sole cause of AIDS, we often refer to HIV as "the AIDS virus."

Like other viruses, HIV attacks cells in the body. But what makes HIV different is that the immune system can never fully get rid of HIV because the virus attacks the immune system itself—the very mechanism that would normally get rid of a virus.

Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system and that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with advanced HIV disease. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventive care.

Where Things Stand: HIV in the United States

The challenges we face are sobering:

• Approximately one in five people living with HIV are unaware of their status, placing them at greater risk for spreading the virus to others.
• Roughly three-fourths of HIV/AIDS cases in the United States are among men, the majority of whom are gay and bisexual men.
• One-fourth of Americans living with HIV are women, and the disease disproportionately impacts women of color. The HIV diagnosis rate for Black women is more than 19 times the rate for White women.
• Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in the HIV epidemic and die sooner than Whites.
• The South and Northeast, along with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are disproportion¬ately impacted by HIV.
• One quarter of new HIV infections occur among adolescents and young adults (ages 13 to 29).
• Twenty-four percent of people living with HIV are 50 or older, and 15 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases occur among people in this age group.

CREDIT: White House, National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Disclosing Your Status

You're HIV positive (HIV+). You've only just learned about your status. OR you've known about it for some time. Whether it's still fresh news that you are beginning to absorb or it's something you have been living with for a while, there are bound to be many situations in your life in which you will be faced with the decision of whether or not to disclose your HIV status – to tell others that you are infected with HIV. In a number of circumstances you will find yourself trying to balance honesty with protecting your right to privacy.

Whom do you feel you need to tell? Is there someone you want to tell, but aren't sure what or how much to say? Is there anyone you feel that you must tell like a spouse, a partner, or perhaps someone whom you've been dating? What about informing any sex partners you've been with about your status? Read more