HIV/AIDS - All Articles

Common Questions & Answers
You should get tested for HIV as soon as possible after exposure, but it can take anywhere from 10 days to 90 days to detect infection. If the test is negative, it is recommended that you get tested again at three and six months.
No, you won’t pick up HIV this way. Unlike the flu or COVID-19, HIV doesn’t survive very long outside the body. It is spread by direct contact with bodily fluids, such as during sex without condoms or barriers, or via injection with nonsterile, used needles.
As soon as you receive a positive diagnosis. This keeps your immune system stronger (preventing progression to AIDS) and reduces your likelihood of passing along HIV, by keeping your viral load low.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP), among other measures, can be taken to lower viral load to an undetectable level, reducing the likelihood of passing HIV to a baby during pregnancy or to a sexual partner to less than 1 percent.
While HIV doesn’t directly cause cancer, a weakened immune system in someone with untreated HIV can increase the chances of some cancers. Regular cancer screenings, proper HIV treatment, and living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent cancer.

Jane Yoon Scott, MD
Medical Reviewer
Jane Yoon Scott, MD, is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients, empowering them to understand and take ownership of their health, and encouraging them to ask questions so that they can make informed and thoughtful decisions.
She graduated with the highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internal medicine residency training and chief residency at Temple University Hospital, as well as a fellowship in infectious diseases at Emory University. She is board-certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases.
When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Scott works with neighboring health departments to promote public health, especially to communities that have been historically underserved. She also teaches medical trainees and lectures medical students at the Emory University School of Medicine.
In her free time, Dr. Scott appreciates a good coffee shop, weekend hikes, playing guitar, strolling through cities, sampling restaurants, and traveling to new places.

Adam Lake, MD
Medical Reviewer
Adam Lake, MD, is a family physician with expertise in LGBTQIA+ health, as well as an HIV specialist and addiction medicine specialist. He is medical director of a clinic specializing in primary care, HIV, and gender-affirming care. He received a bachelor's in biochemistry with an interdisciplinary concentration in linguistics from Grinnell College in Iowa in 2006. He then completed his MD at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed his family medicine residency, HIV area of concentration, and population health fellowship at Lancaster General Health in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2015.
Dr. Lake is an actively practicing physician with primary areas of interest in the intersectionality of marginalized populations and empowering people's health journey with compassion and collaboration. His work focuses on meeting people where they are and bringing care to them. His clinic has expanded access to STD testing and access to preexposure prophylaxis against HIV, and he serves as the tuberculosis physician for his local office of the department of health.
In addition to his work as a physician and for Everyday Health, Lake frequently teaches students and residents, lectures regionally and nationally on related topics, and has published in national journals.

Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES
Medical Reviewer
Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988.
Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH
Medical Reviewer
Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, is a board-certified internal medicine and palliative care physician practicing at City of Hope in Atlanta.
She received a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's of public health in nutrition from Tulane University. She received her medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed her residency in internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Martin previously worked as a medical editor for WebMD and received a Sigma Delta Chi award for online reporting in 2010 and 2011. She is a co-editor of the Ambulatory Medicine Case Book. She is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and American Society of Clinical Oncology.
She is married with two adult daughters, a dog, and two cats. She enjoys hiking and playing classical and jazz piano.

Grant Chu, MD
Medical Reviewer
Grant Chu, MD, is an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also the associate director of education at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, using technology to further medical education.
He is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a diplomate of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
He received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University, where he also earned his medical degree. He has a master's in acupuncture and oriental medicine from South Baylo University and a master's in business administration from the University of Illinois. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a fellowship at the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA.
He has held academic appointments at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Queensland in Australia.

Daniel Landau, MD
Medical Reviewer
Daniel Landau, MD, is a distinguished board-certified hematologist-oncologist with a career that has spanned two eminent institutions: the Orlando Health Cancer Institute and the Medical University of South Carolina. With a specialized interest in genitourinary oncology and hematology, he has been at the forefront of managing both benign and malignant conditions.
Dr. Landau is a pioneering figure in integrating advanced technology into oncology, having served as a director of telemedicine services. Under his leadership, multiple innovative systems have been designed and piloted, all with a singular focus: enhancing the patient experience.
Beyond his clinical and technological endeavors, Landau is deeply committed to medical education. He has dedicated significant time and expertise to nurturing the skills of medical students, residents, and fellows, ensuring that the flame of knowledge and compassion burns bright in the next generation of oncologists.
- About HIV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 14, 2025.
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