‘How HIV has changed in the 13 years since my diagnosis’ – Gay Times Magazine

The 18th January marks 13 years since my HIV diagnosis. It feels strange writing that sentence, as even now my diagnosis does not seem that long ago. You see, I’ve always seen myself as part of that generation diagnosed well after the introduction of antiretroviral treatments in 1996. Only at a World AIDS Day event last year, speaking to someone diagnosed in 2021, did it fully dawn on me how different my experiences in 2010 were to their experiences now.

2010 was a completely different era politically, socially and in terms of HIV prevention, treatment and care. To select three major changes, people living with HIV now commence treatment as soon as they are diagnosed, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) emerged around 2014/2015 and then we learned about the science surrounding “Undetectable equals Untansmittable” or “U=U”. I know that I can’t pass HIV on to my sexual partners, which is empowering. This was a crippling source of anxiety for me when first diagnosed. 

The world is in constant change, and this can sometimes be frightening. I find myself having to adapt and reinvent aspects of my life, which I did not imagine a decade ago. Things will probably never be like they were before coronavirus, but there will be benefits to this as well as downsides. At times, all this can be more difficult as a person living with HIV.

Over the past year we have again seen a flood of new developments around HIV. HIV diagnoses continued to fall, with the drop in diagnoses in gay and bi men particularly accentuated. In 2021, approximately 2,692 people were diagnosed with HIV in England. Back in 2010, I was one of close to 6,000 people diagnosed with HIV. In 2015, gay and bi men accounted for around half of all HIV diagnoses, but in 2021 gay and bi men represented just 36%.

In 2022, we had the introduction of opt-out testing in emergency departments in London, Manchester and Brighton, areas where HIV prevalence is highest. There was an increase in diagnoses in heterosexuals, often in individuals previously considered low risk and who have not been targeted in HIV prevention measures. A major goal for 2023 and beyond has to be how we roll out this testing for all blood-borne viruses nationally.

Despite the successful introduction of opt-out testing, and whilst gay and bi men continued to test for HIV during the lockdown, overall testing declined in other groups. With the changing demographics in terms of HIV diagnoses, it is evident that still more needs to be done to reach straight people. This poses challenges for government, charities and activists. National HIV Testing Week commences on 6 February and whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity, I encourage you to test.