Are there medical treatments available for people with HIV disease?
A variety of treatments — combinations of medicines called “cocktails” — offer hope. They are often very expensive, have serious and very uncomfortable side effects, and may not be available to everyone. They only work for some people and may only work for limited periods of time. While there is increasing hope for people with HIV, there is still no cure. Is HIV fatal for everyone who has it? Some people have lived with HIV and AIDS for many years. New treatments and increased knowledge may help many more people live with HIV even longer. What are the HIV testing options? There are blood, urine, and oral swab HIV tests. At Planned Parenthood, we utilize OraQuick, a 20-minute screening test for HIV. If the OraQuick is negative, there is no need for further blood testing. However, HIV antibodies can take an average of three months to be detected. If the OraQuick is positive, a follow-up blood test is ordered, to confirm or deny infection. Privacy and Testing You can be tested “confidenti
