treatment, it’s easier for the virus to mutate and render your drugs ineffective.
Once you have a drug-resistant form of HIV, it may make your condition more difficult to treat and your risk of transmitting it to others will increase.
What You Need To Tell Your Doctor
When you’re discussing HIV treatment with your doctor, it’s essential that you’re honest about your lifestyle, your health, and your future plans. For example, if you’re interested in having children, your doctor may need to choose certain medications that will reduce the likelihood of passing the virus on to your child.
On the other hand, you should let your doctor know if you take any form of birth control. While birth control shouldn’t affect your treatment, the drugs used to treat HIV can make your birth control less effective.
If you’re on hormone therapy for another condition or as part of gender-affirming care, then HIV drugs shouldn’t interfere with how well they work. However, there’s the possibility that the drugs could make the side effects worse. If this happens, talk to your doctor immediately so they can explore different options for your continued care.
Finally, it’s not uncommon for doctors to modify a medical regimen over time. If you suspect that your treatment isn’t working as well as it should be, you should always tell your doctor.
HIV is a lifelong illness so you need to manage it well. While taking your medication consistently, it’s good to maintain constant communication with your doctor. By doing that, they’ll always be aware of any changes in your health and take immediate action.