In U=U, Dr. Michael Brady tells us about the life-changing message of U=U, or Undetectable = Untransmittable. He helps listeners understand viral loads, their impact on virus transmission, and the impact HIV treatment has on both. Michael and Naomi take a deep-dive into the decades of evidence and clinical studies supporting U=U, and what this means for people living with HIV. Michael emphasises the importance of passing on the message, particularly as healthcare professionals, in aiding people to continue treatment, get tested, fight stigma with the ambition of Getting to Zero.
" So you know, I've heard people burst into tears when they've really got to understand and comprehend this message”
“We can now say, you know, if you're taking treatment, you'll have a long and healthy life and a zero risk of transmitting the virus to others. And it's really shifting the population approach as well as the individual approach.”
" A lot of what continues to drive the stigma around HIV, whether that's internally or externally, is the fear of transmission and the "I don't want to pass it on to anybody else. I don't want anyone else to have what I have." So to be able to tell people with confidence that that will never happen is hugely destigmatising. It completely takes away the fear and the shame around sex."
Resources:
Terrence Higgins Trust, Can’t Pass It On training
Prevention Access U=U Resource Center
Dr. Michael Brady is a Sexual Health and HIV Consultant at King's College Hospital, where he is also the Principal Investigator on the PARTNER, PROUD and PrEP Impact studies. Dr. Brady has clinical interests in HIV transmission, primary HIV infection, HIV testing and prevention strategies and PrEP; and supports work to keep national PrEP guidelines up-to-date. He is also the former Medical Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust – a post he held for 15 years – and the first National Adviser for LGBT Health. Follow along @drmbrady on Twitter/X.
UK-UNB-4750
Jan 2024
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