Understanding HIV You’ve probably been tested for human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, as part of your military service. HIV compromises your immune system and makes it harder for your body to fight infections. As a result, you may be more likely to get sick and stay ill for longer periods of time. A weakened immune system is a threat to your individual and unit operational readiness. Keep your health and the mission intact by taking steps to prevent or manage HIV. How Does HIV Affect Mission Readiness? HIV attacks your immune system and damages your immune response. Being sick can make performing job duties more difficult, which hinders your operational performance and puts your unit at risk. Managing a chronic illness like HIV and its health effects also decreases morale and reduces physical preparedness. HIV and Stigma Having HIV isn’t something to be ashamed of. Yet in the military, it’s often associated with feelings of embarrassment and a fear of rejection. Unfortunately, this can discourage Warfighters from seeking HIV prevention methods and timely testing. Reducing the stigma around HIV can improve access to valuable resources for those at risk or living with it. Learn more about HIV and stigma. How Does HIV Spread? You can only get HIV through certain body fluids. It spreads when bodily fluid from an HIV-positive person enters your bloodstream. Usually this happens by transferring through a mucous membrane, such as those in the vagina, rectum or tip of the penis, during unprotected sex. It can also occur when infected fluid comes into contact with an open cut or sore. Body Fluids that Can Spread HIV Blood Semen Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum) Vaginal fluids Rectal fluids Breast milk How Can I Protect Myself from HIV? Use condoms It usually isn’t obvious whether someone has HIV or another sexually transmitted infection (STI). Having unprotected sex with new or multiple partners could expose you to these health hazards. Practice safe sex by always using a condom. Correct and consistent use of condoms can greatly reduce your risk of contracting HIV. Learn more about condoms and HIV prevention. Talk to your doctor about PrEP If you’re at high risk for HIV, your health care provider may recommend HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It’s a preventative medicine that significantly lowers your risk of getting HIV when taken consistently. PrEP comes as a pill or injection and requires regular follow-up testing to ensure its use remains safe and effective. Learn more about PrEP and HIV prevention. Consider PEP Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is a medicine used in emergency situations after you might have been exposed to HIV. It must be started within 72 hours of possible exposure and taken for 28 days. During this time, your health care provider will likely recommend follow-up testing to monitor your HIV status. Learn more about PEP and HIV prevention. Get tested for other STIs Having an STI raises your risk of getting HIV. Many STIs don’t have symptoms, so getting tested is the only way to know if you have one. Know your STI status and seek treatment if needed to avoid HIV infection and other serious health problems. Learn more about STI testing. How Is HIV Managed? HIV doesn’t go away, but it is treatable. If you’re diagnosed with HIV, you might feel overwhelmed. However, your life may not change as much as you expect. HIV can be managed with prescription medicines called antiretroviral therapy, or ART. These medications lower the amount of HIV in your blood, which can help you stay healthy and reduce the risk of transmitting it to others. Your health care provider will recommend which is best for you based on your current HIV status and medical history. It’s crucial that you follow your health care team’s recommendations closely to preserve your health and readiness. Practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors can also boost your immune system and improve your overall performance as a Warfighter. What About AIDS? You may have heard HIV can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS. While this is true, well-managed HIV may never progress to AIDS. A reliable treatment plan can allow those with HIV to live long, healthy lives. HIV is a threat to your quality of life and mission readiness. Protect yourself and those around you by practicing safe sex, using prevention medicines as needed and getting tested for other STIs routinely. If you have HIV, take care of yourself by sticking to your treatment plan and making healthy lifestyle choices. ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention - “Preventing HIV”Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - “Treating HIV”Congress.gov - “HIV/Aids in the Military”Health.mil - “Four Decades of HIV Antibody Screening in the U.S. Military: A Review of Incidence and Demographic Trends, 1990-2024”HIV.gov - “How Is HIV Transmitted?”HIVinfo.NIH.gov - “HIV and AIDS: The Basics”Medline Plus - “HIV: PrEP and PEP”Yabes Jr JM et al. - “The 3 levels of HIV stigma in the United States military: perspectives from service members living with HIV”
