All about HIV
Here we have gathered information on HIV, transmission, testing, the red ribbon, and words and concepts related to HIV.
With well-adjusted treatment, HIV cannot be transmitted sexually. So there is only a risk of transmission if treatment is not available.
With untreated HIV, the virus can only be transmitted in three ways. These are through unprotected sex, through blood and during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
There is treatment. Once you have HIV, you will have it for life - there is currently no cure. But HIV medication makes the amount of virus so small that it can't even be measured. The treatment means you won't get AIDS and you can get on with your life. The big difference is that you have to take your medication every day and have regular check-ups for the rest of your life.
HIV and AIDS are not the same. HIV is a virus that can be transmitted between people. AIDS is a condition that occurs when the immune system is broken down by HIV so that you have no protection against other diseases. The treatment of HIV prevents AIDS from developing.
Four short facts
"When we were kids, she never told us to keep it a secret, but still there was that feeling of not telling. I remember telling my closest friends in fourth grade and their parents calling my mom's house to see if it was true."
"Those who want and are willing to learn about HIV are the ones I want to spend time with. I can't save the others. But I would like to see higher standards of information dissemination in healthcare."
HIV and transmission
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus. The name is an abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus. If not detected and treated, HIV breaks down the immune system. As HIV multiplies in the body, it attacks and destroys the white blood cells that help the body defend itself against disease. AIDS is an umbrella term for the diseases that you can get with a severaly weakened immune system casued by untreated HIV.
There is treatment
Everyone living with HIV in Sweden is entitled to free treatment. It involves taking a combination of antiretroviral drugs and going for regular check-ups. The drugs mean that HIV can no longer multiply in your body. Instead, the amount of virus will decrease and eventually become so small that it cannot be measured. This means that your blood counts will be good, your immune system will be able to function and HIV will not be passed on to others. So you won't get sick and develop AIDS. For about 95% of people living with HIV in Sweden, the treatment is well adjusted - this is also called effective treatment. Treatment is lifelong, as with other chronic diseases.
Transmission can be prevented
Effective treatment means 100% protection against sexual transmission. The research supports the global movement called U=U, Undetectable equals untransmittable, which means that the risk of transmission is zero. This is something of a medical revolution. The treatment also makes it possible to become pregnant and give birth without transmitting HIV. As for breastfeeding and blood transmission, there is not the same research base, so some precautions still apply. Untreated HIV can be transmitted in three ways: through unprotected sex, blood and during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. There is no other way.
Without treatment
If you don't get access to treatment, your body has nothing to fight against. The virus multiplies as your immune system weakens and eventually breaks down. This process can take anywhere from a few years to 10 years. You can then get different diseases, such as a severe pneumonia called pneumocystis, a type of skin cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma and repeated fungal infections of the airways and esophagus. This means you get AIDS, which is short for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a fatal condition. If you get treatment in time, this can be reversed and the virus levels can drop again. So HIV with or without treatment makes all the difference in the world.
Where to get tested for HIV & STIs
In Sweden, both civil society organizations and public health services provide testing for HIV and STIs. Below are the names of organizations and information on where you can go to get tested for HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
In regular health care
On 1177.se you can find contact details for many of the organizations listed below, and in some cases you can also book an appointment and send a message if you log in to 1177.se. You can also look up phone numbers using Google or another search engine and call the organizations directly.
Health center
A health center can take tests themselves and/or provide advice on nearby places where you can get tested.
Skin clinic or gender clinic
Skin clinics are available both in hospitals and as stand-alone facilities.
Sexual health clinic
A sexual health clinic offers a wide range of sexual health services and often has good knowledge of HIV if you want to talk too.
Infectious disease clinic
Infection clinics are usually located in hospital areas and specialize in infections.
Youth clinic (for those under 23-25 years old)
If you are under 23, or in some places 25, there are youth clinics that test for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
Student health services
At universities, student health services often offer tests for HIV and sexually transmitted infections or can refer you to where you can get tested in the local area.
RFSU clinics
The RFSU clinic in Stockholm offers HIV testing, information, advice and support. You can also chat and receive telephone advice.
RFSL
Offers HIV and STI testing in several locations in Sweden under its own name as well as Testpoint and Checkpoint. The activities are primarily aimed at men who have sex with men and transgender people. RFSL also offers HIV tests at festivals and certain public gatherings.
Doctors in the World
Primarily targets undocumented migrants and vulnerable people. Offers testing in Örebro, Malmö, Stockholm and Uppsala.
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark local associations offer testing in Stockholm, Växjö, Linköping, Norrköping and Malmö.
Through civil society organizations
Read more or contact the organisations by clicking on the links below.
Frequently asked questions about HIV testing
How does the test work?
There are two different types of tests, a rapid test and a test where a blood sample is taken from the crook of the arm. The rapid test is done by pricking the finger with a small needle tray. A blood sample from the arm is taken with a needle and container, which is then analyzed in a laboratory.
How quickly can I get an answer to an HIV test?
A rapid test provides an answer in about 15 minutes. A blood sample from the armpit, analyzed in the laboratory, can take a few days to a week or two.
Can I test myself at home?
It is now possible to order HIV tests online, for example from online pharmacies. However, the quality and sensitivity of the tests vary and cannot be guaranteed. Our recommendation is to primarily use the testing options available in regular healthcare or from civil society organizations.
Can I be anonymous?
Yes, you have the right to remain anonymous when testing for HIV. However, keep in mind that if the test is positive, the Communicable Diseases Act applies. The requirement is then that the person who tests positive contacts the regular healthcare system for medical contact and further testing.
Are the tests reliable?
The tests used in civil society organizations and mainstream health care are very reliable.
Does it cost anything?
No, HIV tests in regular health care and through civil society organizations are and should be free of charge. The price of HIV tests ordered from online pharmacies is determined by each pharmacy.
Red ribbon
HIV-Sweden's logo features the red ribbon as a symbol of HIV awareness.
The history of the red ribbon
The Red Ribbon is the international symbol for HIV and AIDS awareness. The Red Ribbon was created in 1991 and has been an important symbol for HIV work ever since. By wearing the Red Ribbon, you can support the work of people living with HIV.
In 1991, Visual AIDS in New York had an idea for an international symbol for the fight against AIDS. A symbol of solidarity and tolerance with those who are often discriminated against by the public - those living with HIV and AIDS. In the style of the Yellow Ribbon - which was popular in the US at the time as a symbol of support for the soldiers in the Gulf War - the Red Ribbon was created.
After the first events in the New York art world, Visual AIDS set its sights on the Tony Awards. In a spontaneous campaign, volunteers sent letters with the red ribbon to all performers. Film actor Jeremy Irons was the only one wearing the symbol that night and the television audience had not been informed of the meaning of the new symbol.
The Red Ribbon came to Europe in spring 1992 when more than 100,000 Red Ribbons were distributed during the Freddie Mercury AIDS Gala at Wembley Stadium in London. More than a billion people in over 70 countries worldwide watched the concert on television. On the same day, Red Ribbon International was founded in London.
Source: Red Ribbon International
Order the Red Ribbon
Order Red Ribbon pins by emailing us. All proceeds go to Hiv-Sweden's work to support people living with HIV.
Buy single pins
The red ribbon costs 25 SEK. Postage is added to all orders according to PostNord's postage table. We can send up to ten pins for the cost of one stamp.
Larger orders
Please contact us for price information for larger orders and if you are interested in selling red ribbons. Invoices are sent for orders over 500 SEK. An invoice fee of 30 SEK will be added.
Email to: info@hiv-sverige.se
Gift
Bankgiro: 5107-6594
Swish: 123-211 18 96
Write "Gift" in the message.
Thank you!
Linguistic recommendations
Words and concepts -stigma thinking terminology
Our words have more meaning than we often think. Terms such as HIV-infected, HIV-positive, HIV-carrier and words like infection are highly charged when talking or writing about HIV. These can be perceived as derogatory and insulting by people living with HIV. Especially since the words have such a strong association with the fear that existed when HIV was discovered in the 1980s. Therefore, our organization has developed a stigma-reducing terminology in Swedish based on the UNAIDS Terminology Guidelines from 2015.
People living with HIV
People living with HIV (PLHIV) is an internationally accepted term. When talking or writing about people with a positive HIV diagnosis, it is recommended to use the term people living with HIV.
People living with HIV choose how they want to refer to themselves. Within our organization, the use of the term HIV positive is reserved for people living with HIV only. Others are advised to use the term people living with HIV (PLHIV).
Swedish spelling
In English, HIV and AIDS are abbreviations, which is why you see them written in capital letters, HIV and AIDS, in foreign texts. In Swedish, these abbreviations have become words in their own right as they can be pronounced as words (acronym). They are therefore written in lower case and words with HIV become compound words without hyphens.
Distinguish between HIV & AIDS
One of the most common mistakes is to write or speak about "HIV/AIDS". We do not believe that this terminology is appropriate as HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. In most cases, the two terms should not be used together as there is a risk of confusion. We recommend using the terms separately to avoid confusion between HIV (a virus) and AIDS (a clinical diagnosis).