What does HIV infection mean in the long term?

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HIV treatments have improved dramatically over the years, this has had a huge impact on an HIV positive person’s life expectancy.

However, every person is different and there is no set answer on the life expectancy of an HIV positive person. Many people agree that survival can be several decades or longer if there are continued improvements in treatments.

There are many factors – some related to HIV and some not related – which can determine how long a person with HIV will live. These factors include:

• How well you look after yourself emotionally and physically
• Decisions around treatments
• How well treatments work for you
• Genetic factors
• Co-infection with other illnesses such as sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis. If you are co-infected with viral hepatitis for instance, this might influence your treatment decisions