Be Negative

A continuous rising number of infections among men having sex with men (MSM) is a cause for concern.

HIV infection among MSM has shown a continuous rising trend since 2004. Up till now, we are still facing a worrying epidemic situation.

A third round of HIV Prevalence and Risk behavioural Survey of Men who have sex with men (PRiSM) was conducted by the Department of Health in 2011. It was found that the HIV prevalence in the community was 1 in every 25 MSM.

In 2013, a total of 295 new cases of HIV infections among MSM (homosexual and bisexual contacts) was reported. It contributed to more than half (53%) of all new HIV cases. The high MSM infection reported is also the main cause for the record high overall number in 2013.

What is AIDS?
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). After a person gets infected, the virus will gradually destroy the CD4 lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cells) in human body, lower the person's immunity, cause various opportunistic infections and tumours, and ultimately lead to death.

How do you get it?
HIV is mainly found in human body fluid such as blood, semen, vaginal discharge, pre-seminal fluid, anal mucus and breast milk. It may be passed from one person to another by the following routes:

Sexual contact	In Hong Kong, more than 70% of cases are infected through sexual contact (including vaginal sex, anal sex and oral sex). HIV can be transmitted by both homosexual and heterosexual contact, such as having unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex with someone who has HIV. Receptive anal sex is riskier than insertive anal sex. Having multiple sex partners can increase the risk of infection. For HIV positive men, having "undetectable" HIV viral load does not mean that you cannot pass on HIV during unprotected sex. Risk of HIV transmission would be increased if there were a presence of other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), ulcers or blood during sexual contact. For HIV negative men, having a STI can cause inflammation in the site of infection or ulcers, which increase the chance of getting HIV.
Blood contact	Blood-borne transmission usually occurs through sharing injection tools for drug taking, transfusion of HIV-contaminated blood or blood products.
Mother to child infection	Infected mothers can transmit the virus to their babies during pregnancy, delivery and breast-feeding periods.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Most infected people look healthy and have no signs or symptoms. Even asymptomatic, infected people are able to transmit HIV to others. However, some infected people may have symptoms like tiredness, fever, poor appetite, weight loss, diarrhoea, night sweat and swollen glands.

HIV testing

HIV Antibody Test

After you get infected with HIV, your immune system will start to produce antibodies to fight against it. The HIV antibody test, by detecting antibodies, can diagnose whether you have been infected. A positive test result shows that you are infected, while a negative result shown after the window period means you are not infected.

Facts About Testing

You’re highly infectious during the ‘window period’
Window period is the period between the moment you get infected with HIV and when the antibody test shows a positive result. The window period of HIV antibody test is usually 3 months. During that period, the virus replicates in the infected person who becomes highly infectious and can transmit the virus to other people even though his HIV antibody test remains negative. During the time between HIV infection and the production of antibodies. HIV transmission can occur because the person doesn't know that he has HIV and is most infectious.
If you had unprotected sex with a HIV infected person even who has an undetectable viral load,
you still have chance to get HIV infection from him.
If a HIV-positive person has an undetectable viral load, it reduces the chances of them passing it on. Ejaculation would increase the risk, but HIV can also be in other bodily fluids like pre-cum and the lining of the anus.
Benefits of knowing your HIV status via testing
Advances in HIV treatment has led to a greatly improved survival of infected patients, especially when the diagnosis is made early. There is evidence that HIV treatment contributes significantly to the prevention of onward transmission via sexual contact.

Rapid HIV Test
Rapid test is only a screening test. Any positive rapid test result should be followed by a confirmatory test of venous blood conducted by a laboratory. A negative result suggests that no HIV antibodieswere detected in the blood specimen. But if the test was done within the window period, you need to recheck.

When and Where to get tested?
Epidemiologically, a few populations are at higher risk of contracting HIV, including men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, female sex workers and their clients, and sex partners of HIV-positive individuals should have regular HIV testing. It is generally recommended to repeat the test every 6 to 12 months.

HIV antibody testing services in Hong Kong

Gay Men HIV Testing Hotline	Contact : 2117 1069
Social Hygiene clinics	（please visit the website for clinics' contact）
A-Backup	Contact : 3116 7204
AIDS Concern	Contact : 2898 4411 / 2394 6677
The Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong - Project Touch	Contact : 6109 6529 / 63876984
C.H.O.I.C.E.	Contact : 3188 9024
Hong Kong AIDS Foundation	Contact : 9093 0335
Midnight Blue	Contact : 2493 4555
Rainbow of Hong Kong	Contact : 8180 1069

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Treatment of HIV infection

Antiretroviral drugs attack HIV at different stages of its life cycle to inhibit HIV replication and thus bring the viral load down. As a result, the immune function can be improved and disease progression delayed. Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has now become the standard treatment of HIV infection in Hong Kong.

Antiretroviral therapy may also cause side effects or toxicities. Most of these side effects are usually transient and mild. The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal upset. Other side effects may occur such as anaemia, neutropenia and abnormal liver function. Some drugs produce peripheral neuropathy, generalized discomfort, pancreatitis and kidney stone.