HIV

In this section, you will find information about HIV, including understanding the risk of transmission as Women Partner of Men who have Sex with Men. We will discuss when you should have a test, where to have sexual health screening in New South Wales, preventative measures you can take to stop infection and/or transmission to others and what living with HIV is like.

What is HIV?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that harms the immune system by destroying the white blood cells that fight infection. This can make a person living with HIV more vulnerable to other infections and health conditions such as cancer.

With medical intervention, HIV can be effectively controlled to keep you healthy and prevent transmission to your partners. (1)

HIV in New South Wales

The following information comes from: HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual surveillance report 2025: HIV

-          In 2024, 757 new diagnoses occurred in Australia, and 598 diagnoses occurred overseas, before coming to Australia. Of the Australian-born diagnoses, 203 were heterosexual, and 103 were women. For those born overseas, of the 480 new diagnoses, 115 were heterosexual, and 116 were women.

-          Of these new diagnoses, 38.4% were late-stage diagnoses. Heterosexual transmission has an increased likelihood of late-stage diagnosis (49.6%). Between 2020-2024, 318 women received a late-stage HIV diagnosis.

-          There is an estimated 6% of those living with undiagnosed HIV, and the population most at risk of living with undiagnosed HIV are heterosexual people, and heterosexual people born overseas

-          Women (7.3%) carry a slightly higher risk of living with undiagnosed HIV than men (6.4%)

-          Heterosexual HIV risk exposure has increased over the past decade, and NSW has the highest reported heterosexual HIV exposures nationwide (61 notifications). Exposure means you have had sexual contact that could pose a risk of acquiring HIV, but you do not acquire HIV. NSW has the second-highest HIV diagnosis nationwide

-          Of heterosexual women diagnosed with HIV, their age range is between 30-39 and 40-49 years of age

-          Of the 472 GMSM men diagnosed with HIV, 81 identify as having sex with both men and women

-          For those living with HIV, 96% of heterosexual women and 96.6% of multicultural people have an undetectable viral load.

-          In the First Nations population, 23 new diagnoses occurred, with a decrease in heterosexual transmission, but with an increase in female transmission (from 3 in 2023 to 9 in 2024), and a decrease in late-stage diagnosis. NSW has the third-highest First Nations acquisition rates nationwide.

‍How is HIV transmitted?  (1)                                                

• Anal or vaginal sex without a condom

• Sharing injecting equipment (i.e. needles, syringes and other injecting equipment and drug solutions when injecting drugs) or unsterile tattooing, cutting or piercing equipment

• From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding if the mother has undiagnosed or unmedicated HIV

• Through blood transfusions and tissue transplantation that are not subjected to stringent screening and testing

• Through accidental needlestick injuries, such as in a health care setting

How is HIV not transmitted?

• You cannot get HIV from hugging, shaking hands, saliva or spit, kissing, mosquitos, sharing food, dishes, cutlery or toilets.

Understanding Risk Factors

Understanding the factors that increase the risk of STI and HIV transmission is important for protecting your sexual health, and a healthcare professional can offer personalised guidance if you have any concerns. The idea that “your sexual health is only as safe as your partner’s sexual practices” can feel confronting, especially when you believed you were in a long‑term, monogamous relationship. Many Women Partners clients describe feeling blindsided when they discover their risk may be different from what they assumed, and the mix of shock, betrayal, and uncertainty can be overwhelming.

When trust has been broken, the emotional impact often sits alongside very real questions about safety. In these situations, having your own sexual health testing becomes a clear and reliable way to understand your current health status. Testing does not assign blame; it simply gives you certainty at a time when so much else may feel uncertain.

What if my partner or I are HIV positive?

If you or your sexual partner is HIV positive, HIV transmission can be prevented if the positive partner is on HIV antiretroviral treatment and has an undetectable viral load. Most people will have an undetectable viral load after six months of effective treatment adherence. (2)

Support services for living with HIV:

Positive life – for those living in NSW, this is a state-wide support organisation with peer support, advocacy, health and psychological support

PozHet – for heterosexual people at risk of, or living with HIV, this is a state-wide organisation that provides health education and information, referrals to local supports and opportunities to connect with others living with HIV

National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA ) - Australia-wide organisation providing health promotion, advocacy, and representation for those living with HIV

Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Services (MHAHS) provide a NSW-based Clinical Concierge Program which provides bilingual cultural support workers to assist those newly diagnosed with understanding their HIV diagnosis and becoming confident in navigating the Australian health care system.  

MHAHS also provides in-language HIV information including the "HIV What You Need to Know" in Thai, Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Portuguese and Spanish.

‍Understanding the NSW laws around HIV disclosure

Does somebody have to disclose their HIV status? Legally no, if they are doing all they can to prevent transmission by

• having safe, protective sex (using condoms)

• using Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to ensure they have a viral load of under viral load below 200 copies/mL which means that the virus is untransmissible

• seeking confirmation from sexual partner that they are using PrEP as prevention as treatment for reducing HIV transmission

However, if somebody lies about their HIV status, particularly to have unprotected sexual contact with someone, this is legally non-consensual and is breaking NSW consent laws. Similarly, if someone knowing their HIV positive status, has unprotected sex and is not using another method to prevent transmission (like PrEP and an undetectable viral load) this is against the law. The NSW HIV/AIDS Legal Centre have provided a very comprehensive resource on this topic. It can be very helpful to know the HIV laws of the state, territory or country you reside in. (3)

Call NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624, if you have questions about what tests you should have, need further information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections or want to check your risk.

References:

1) NSW Health. HIV fact sheet. 2025. NSW Government. Available from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/HIV-infection.aspx

2) Aids Map. Undetectable Viral Load and HIV transmission. (2023). Available from: https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/undetectable-viral-load-and-hiv-transmission

3) HIV/AIDS Legal Centre. Disclosing your HIV Status: A guide to some of the legal issues. (2023). Available from: https://halc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FINAL-FINAL-FINAL-NSW-Disclosure-Guide.pdf