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On this episode of HIV Connect we dive deep into the conversation around sexual health for people living with HIV, breaking down sexual stigma, and what healthy sex looks like. Marriage and family therapist Damon Jacobs and HIV educator LaDeia Joyce join Kalvin to celebrate pleasure and illuminate the obstacles that people living with HIV face when trying to obtain sexual health care.

Daily weight fluctuation is normal and comes down to what and when we eat, drink, exercise, and even sleep. For most of us, shedding the extra few pounds and or replacing fat with muscle seems like a never-ending quest. But for people living with chronic conditions, including HIV, significant weight gain is an important considerations that sometimes requires consulting with a clinician to get it right. On this episode of HIV Connect we will explore the ins and outs of achieving and sustaining a weight that promotes our overall health and well-being.

In the more than 40 years since the beginning of the HIV pandemic, we have come a long way from the introduction of modern Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in 1996 which consisted of multiple pills taken multiple times a day to the newly available option of long-acting injectable ART dosed six times a year. This shift in HIV treatment delivery has been touted as a gamechanger in relation to mitigating the Achilles heel of ART, notably maintaining near-perfect adherence. On this episode of HIV Connect we will explore this new treatment modality and its potential impact on as the science of HIV evolves and is implemented in real-life within clinical settings across the United States.

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the important role mental health plays in our lives, as illustrated by the inclusion of mental health as a priority in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. The COVID-19 pandemic only served to exacerbate existing mental health conditions, including among people living with HIV. Additionally, though, people living with mental health conditions often experience discrimination and stigma that pose barriers to accessing and utilizing evidence-based mental health interventions – cognitive and therapeutic. In this episode of HIV Connect we will explore the critical role of mental health in the lives of people living with HIV.

More than a few years ago, the results of multiple clinical trials offered clear-cut evidence that consistent suppression of HIV with ART prevents sexual transmission of the virus. These studies unequivocally supported the concept the HIV treatment was also prevention, otherwise known as treatment as prevention, or TasP. While clinicians were aware of this evidence-based concept, it did not catch on with the HIV community until the Prevention Access Campaign launched the revolutionary U=U campaign with the pithier message communicating that undetectable equals untransmittable. In this episode of HIV Connect Kalvin speaks with Bruce Richman and Davina Conner about the win-win proposition behind this powerful message.

Finding a good doctor you can trust can be a significant barrier to getting quality care. Both HIV-informed and gender-affirming care provide their own challenges when dealing with ER visits, general doctors appointments, and health insurance. Today Kalvin speaks with britt walsh and Tori Cooper to discuss the intersections and challenges of getting quality care, and the positive changes they have seen in the healthcare system.