When or whether to start treatment for HIV is a decision that each person must make with their providers. In general, experts recommend starting HIV treatment very soon after your diagnosis; this can help prevent some of the damage that HIV causes in many parts of the body. HIV treatment (known as antiretroviral therapy, or ART) is strongly recommended for all people with HIV, and more urgently for anyone who has evidence of immune suppression (a CD4+ cell count that is below normal) or an AIDS diagnosis (an infection or cancer associated with HIV). It is also urgently recommended for anyone who has a sex partner who does not have HIV, and for women who may become pregnant.

For details, see Treatment Decisions.