HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

HIV in Grampian 2024 - what you need to know

There was an increase in new HIV diagnoses in Grampian in 2023. There is still a risk of HIV transmission in Grampian, including sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).

How to reduce your risk of HIV transmission:

· PrEP (Pre exposure prophylaxis) for HIV is available free from Grampian Sexual Health Service. This is medication which protects against HIV transmission when taken prior to a potential exposure.

· PEP (Post exposure prophylaxis) for HIV can be accessed from Grampian Sexual Health Services and via NHS24 out of hours. This is emergency medication which protects against HIV transmission when taken as soon as possible after a potential exposure, and must be started within 72 hours.

· Free condoms are available by post by emailing gram.freecondoms@nhs.scot

· Testing for HIV and other STIs is available from your GP or Grampian Sexual Health Services- we recommend testing every three months if having sex without condoms with new or casual partners.

For more information and how to book an apointment see below:

What is HIV?

HIV is a long term health condition which is now very easy to manage. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus targets the immune system and if untreated, weakens your ability to fight infections and disease.

How do you get it?

HIV is found in body fluids of a person with the virus, whose levels of virus are detectable.

The body fluids most likely to contain enough virus to pass on HIV to another person are:

semen (including pre-cum)
vaginal fluid
anal mucus
blood
breast milk

HIV is a fragile virus and does not survive outside the body for long.

HIV is most commonly passed on through unprotected (without a condom or PrEP) anal or vaginal sex, or by sharing syringes or needles when injecting drugs.

HIV can also be passed from an infected mother to baby during pregnancy or through breastfeeding, although if she is on medication, this can prevent transmission to the baby. Most women in Scotland who have HIV do not pass it on to their baby because they are on treatment.

You can't get HIV:

From sharing food, cooking or eating utensils
From kissing
From shaking hands or hugging
From the toilet or swimming pools
From spitting or biting
From sneezing

How do I know if I have HIV?

Some people have flu like symptoms in early infection or later signs the immune system is under pressure such as recurrent infections. However the majority of people have no symptoms.
The only way to find out if you have HIV is to get tested

Where can I get tested?

Make an appointment at Grampian Sexual Health Services on 0345 337 9900
Make an appointment with your GP.
Dry blood spot kits are also available from Alcohol and Drugs Action and Grampian Sexual Health or you can email gram.bbvpostaltesting@nhs.scot or call healthline on 08085202030.
For men who have sex with men, gay, bi-sexual and trans men and women- Exchange Street Clinic at Frederick Street, Aberdeen – call 0345 337 9900 for more information
Buy a self test kit from your pharmacist or an online provider.

If you don’t have symptoms but have had unprotected sex and want an STI and/or HIV test, we may be able to offer you an at home postal testing kit. This can be sent to your home to complete and return. Please call our reception team for more information.

If you are experiencing symptoms of an STI, it is important that you see a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

How do they test for HIV?

An HIV test involves taking a small amount of blood from you, usually from your arm if taken by a health care provider or a pin prick from your finger if a self test or dry blood spot kit is used.
It can sometimes take 8 weeks (the window period) for the blood test to show positive. During the window period a person can be infected with HIV and infectious but have a negative HIV test. You may be advised to come back for a repeat test when that ‘window period’ is up.

What is the treatment?

HIV is completely treatable and treatment allows people living with the infection to stay well and to lead healthy lives. As the treatments are so effective, once treated, the virus does not impact on life expectancy.
Treatment also prevents the virus being transmitted. If a person living with HIV if on effective treatment the virus becomes “undetectable” in the blood and means it can’t be passed on. This includes sexual transmission and during child birth.
Currently treatment is lifelong but is often just one tablet a day. With blood tests 6 monthly to ensure the medication is working.

How do I reduce my risk of getting HIV?

The best way to prevent all sexually transmitted infections including HIV, is to practise safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal or anal sex, a dam or condom for oral sex or practicing safer sex alternatives
Free Condoms are available by post by emailing gram.freecondoms@nhs.scot.
If you use or inject drugs even performance and image enhancing drugs such as steroids never share needles, syringes, water or other paraphernalia. Use fresh, clean equipment every time you inject, and use appropriate disposal containers for used equipment.
Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP):
What is PEP?
PEP is a 4 week course of tablets which can be taken in an emergency if you think you may have been exposed to HIV
It reduces the chance of you becoming HIV positive
It needs to be started as soon as possible and always within 72 hours of exposure
You can get PEP at the following places:
Sexual Health Services NHS Grampian 03453379900
Call NHS 24 on 111
The Emergency Department (ED), Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
G-Docs
Sexual Health Services NHS Grampian 03453379900
ED, Dr, Gray’s Hospital Elgin
ED, Peterhead hospital
ED, Chalmers Hospital, Banff
ED, Jubilee Hospital Huntly
Your occupational health provider for work related incidents.
For more information about PEP visit Waverley Care is Scotland's HIV and Hepatitis C charity
Pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP):

PrEP is a tablet taken either once a day or as required to reduce the HIV transmission. It is free in Scotland for people who need it. You can read more about PrEP here. If you wish to discuss or start PrEP contact NHS Grampian Sexual Health Service on 0345 337 9900 to make an appointment.

Optimising PrEP Services

You can now read the report: "How can we best deliver HIV Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for maximum health gain?"

This may be of interest to patients who took part in the research and others for further information regarding PrEP services in Scotland.

How do I reduce the chance of passing on HIV to a partner?

The best way to prevent all sexually transmitted infections including HIV, is to practise safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal or anal sex, a dam or condom for oral sex or practicing safer sex alternatives.
If you use or inject drugs (even performance and image enhancing drugs such as steroids) never share needles, syringes, water or other paraphernalia. Use fresh, clean equipment every time you inject, and use appropriate disposal containers for used equipment.
Remember that U=U. Undetectable = Untransmittable. If you are taking treatment for HIV and your regular blood tests show that the treatment is keeping the level of HIV virus in your blood low enough to be undetectable this means that you cannot pass the virus on to others.