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Help for 1 million people in the U.S. with the HIV virus

	Today's treatments mean that having HIV is not as bad as it used to be. Taking medication can help you stay healthy for many years. ConsumerReportsHealth.org and your doctor can help you find treatments for HIV that work well.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org today and find out which medications rate best for treating HIV. Also, learn how to prevent catching or spreading the virus.

If you or someone you know is diagnosed with HIV infection, you're not alone. Consumer Reports Health can help with the best research about HIV/AIDS, and expert evidence and advice about treatment options.

Key points about HIV

• HIV lives in blood and in men's semen and women's vaginal fluid. You can get the virus when fluids from an infected person get inside your body.
• Most people get HIV by having unprotected sex with someone who has the virus.
• You can also get the virus by sharing a needle or a syringe with someone who injects drugs.
• Pregnant women with HIV can pass the virus to their baby during pregnancy, birth, or when breast-feeding.
• You can't get HIV from kissing on the cheek or sharing a fork or bar of soap with someone who has the virus.
• You can have HIV for many years before it starts to affect your health, when it's called AIDS.
• The only way to find out whether you have HIV is to have a blood test.

In the United States, about 1 million people have HIV. Worldwide about 38 million people are infected with HIV. Although there is still no cure for HIV infection, drugs called antiretrovirals can help control the virus and allow people with HIV to stay healthy longer. If you're pregnant, there are treatments that can stop you from passing HIV on to your child.

We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more about HIV/AIDS. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable about which treatments are best for you.

Our in-depth, complete report on HIV/AIDS, including Treatment Ratings, is available to subscribers.