On December 1st, some people celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent. What if there were other things to celebrate as well? On this World AIDS and HIV Day, let us take advantage of undoing some beliefs, making visible the victories against the virus, and highlighting the current realities (in our privileged regions at least) of life with HIV !
Because living with HIV no longer means giving up on your sexual and/or relationship life.
Even if it remains a shock to discover one’s HIV status, and it is upsetting to imagine one’s life dependent on a pill, the outlook is currently reassuring. Under triple therapy, the virus can become undetectable and untransmittable, including during sexual relations, thus reopening horizons of pleasure and peace of mind.
In addition, the quality and expectancy of life become equivalent to those of the general population, which makes it possible to plan ahead, to imagine long-term projects, to experience possible parenthood and a fulfilled and rich life without the sword of Damocles that the disease could have been. Goodbye to imagination Philadelphia or to Wild nightshello to more current stories, where life takes precedence over drama!
Inspiring stories to overcome stigma
But… where to find them? The Positive Life site offers inspiring testimonials. Sharing one’s status remains an issue: stigma and outdated beliefs persist, sometimes leading to rejection and isolation.
Fortunately, these stories also show a bright side: that of the love, support and kindness that family, peers, friends and/or partners can offer.
Because living with HIV today is above all living. It’s having the energy to do things. It’s being able to keep your body as an ally. To be able to allow, once the shock has passed and the treatment has been put in place, the desire to return – and the bodies to meet, without the fear of transmitting the virus. Even though all this may seem to be hanging by a thread – a pill – the possibilities are there. Of course, HIV is not the only existing STI or the most common, it is better to go out (or come in in this case) covered, covered – even under PrEP for HIV negative people – when you do not know the partners!
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