What is U=U?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system (the body’s disease-fighting system). HIV makes it difficult for your body to fight against infections and cancers that it would normally be able to fight off.

Read our article on What is the difference between HIV and AIDS. 

How is HIV acquired? 

HIV is passed through certain bodily fluids. This means that blood, semen, vaginal liquids, breast milk and secretions from the anus can all carry the virus. People living with HIV can take medication that will keep them healthy and prevents HIV from being passed on to their sexual partners. The medicine works by reducing a person’s viral load to an undetectable amount. 

Undetectable means that the amount of HIV in the blood is so low that it was not picked up by the test. The person is still HIV-positive and must continue to take their medication but the treatment is so effective that they cannot pass on HIV to another person through sex. This breakthrough in HIV medicine is known as Undetectable equals Untransmittable or U=U.

What is U=U?

What is a viral load?

Viral Load is a term used to describe the amount of HIV in the blood at any one time. It is determined by a blood test. The more HIV there is in the blood (a high viral load), the greater the risk of becoming ill because of a weakened immune system. With effective treatment, the viral load can be reduced to undetectable and damage to the immune system is stopped.

What treatment is used for HIV?

HIV treatment is a combination of antiretroviral drugs that aim to stop the virus from replicating in the body and allow the immune system to function as normal.

HIV treatment is now so effective for people living with HIV that the viral load can be reduced to undetectable and damage to the immune system is stopped. The term for this is undetectable viral load. An undetectable viral load normally means that the immune system together with HIV medication, are successfully controlling the replication of HIV in the body.

What does having an undetectable viral load mean?

The goal of effective treatment for people living with HIV is to reduce the viral load to an undetectable level. This means that they will not pass on HIV to their sexual partners even if they do not use condoms.

Having an undetectable viral load means that people living with HIV can feel confident that they will not pass on HIV to their sexual partners. People living with HIV face a lot of specific challenges that are related to the stigma surrounding the virus. The message of U=U can help to break down misinformation around HIV and help reduce stigma.

The message of U=U can help transform the lives of people living with HIV by:

• Eliminating concern about passing HIV on to partners
• Creating the opportunity to conceive by having sex
• Breaking down HIV stigma in the community, with medical professionals and for individuals

What if my viral load is not undetectable?

Regardless of a person’s HIV status, we are all equal. A person’s value is not measured by their viral load and no one living with HIV is a danger. If you are living with HIV and currently have a detective viral load you can still enjoy an active sex life without fear of transmitting HIV by using condoms.

Living with HIV and PrEP

If you are living with a detectable viral load PrEP can also be a prevention option for your sexual partners. PrEP is a medicine that is taken to reduce the chance of getting HIV. It works by having enough of the drug in your body that if you are exposed to HIV, it can block it before it has a chance to establish infection. Taking PrEP correctly is more than 99% effective at preventing HIV infection.

PrEP is now available for free in Ireland to people who are at a high risk of acquiring HIV. Read our article on PrEP to learn about who is entitled to free PrEP.

Supports and services for people living with HIV

Everyone living with HIV regardless of viral load can have full and healthy social, sexual, and reproductive lives. If you have recently received an HIV diagnosis or are transferring your care from another country, speak to an HIV consultant, sexual health practitioner or GP about starting treatment.

• HIV Ireland
• Gay Men’s Health Clinic
• Guide Clinic at St James’ Hospital
• List of free STI clinics in Ireland

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

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• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.

Need more information, advice or guidance?

We offer information, advice and guidance about the issues that matter to you. Our online Youth Information Chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
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