Living with HIV
Treatments for HIV are now very effective. They work by stopping the virus replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and preventing further damage.
However, HIV is able to develop resistance to medication and so most people need to take a combination of medications.
If people with HIV don’t get treated, their immune system will become severely damaged and they can develop opportunistic infections/AIDS defining illness.
We provide free treatment and care for people living with HIV in a welcoming, confidential, non-judgmental environment, including:
- HIV treatment, advice and care
- Information and support for people newly diagnosed with HIV
- Ongoing emotional support
- Sexual and reproductive health advice including sexual health screens and advice about fertility and pregnancy
- Free condoms, lubricant, female condoms and dental dams
- Signposting and referrals to other agencies
- Routine appointments with a doctor every 3–6 months, although initially you may need to be seen more frequently
- Regular monitoring blood tests to look at the amount of virus in the blood – this helps to show whether the treatment is working or whether a change in medication is needed
- Annual screening for sexually transmitted infections and smear tests for women
Our experienced and dedicated team includes:
- HIV specialist consultants
- Nurses
- Sexual health advisers
- Pharmacist and pharmacy technician
- Support staff
- HIV Health and Wellbeing Advisor
To register with us or to transfer your care to us from another clinic, or for any other enquiries, contact us at:
- Luton Sexual Health: 01583 497070
- HIV Health and Wellbeing Advisor: 07919 211946
The ArcHIVe Podcast
The ArcHIVe is a podcast created by a group of young people who have grown up in the UK living with HIV, sharing their thoughts, hopes and dreams. Music, poetry and drama created by the young people for this essential podcast will explore misinformation about HIV and AIDS, stigma, managing HIV medication and how difficult it can be to talk to other people about having HIV. Click here to listen at CHIVA’s website