'It's not a death sentence anymore,' says Cork woman living with HIV 

The HSE has launched a campaign to help reduce the stigma experienced by people living with HIV in Ireland

Ainara Pedroso began speaking publicly about living with HIV last year when she and her husband wanted to begin IVF.

HIV is no longer a death sentence, a woman living with the virus in Macroom, Co Cork, said as she urged people to learn more about the condition.

The HSE on Tuesday launched a campaign to help reduce the stigma experienced by people living with HIV in Ireland.

New survey findings show seven in 10 people do not know that a person with HIV cannot pass it to sexual partners when they are on effective treatment.

Ainara Pedroso began speaking publicly about living with HIV last year when she and her husband wanted to begin IVF.

"People barely know about the advances in medication." 

She said it was "really important for people to understand HIV is not a death sentence anymore like it was in the 80s".

Today, you just take one pill and you live with it as a chronic disease, more like someone with diabetes taking their insulin. 

Ms Pedroso was diagnosed in 2017 and began treatment soon afterwards. 

“A few months after, my diagnosis was already considered as undetectable and untransmittable because I started with the medication really early,” she said.

“I did know from my nursing studies once you are undetectable you are untransmittable but [the diagnosis] was still a shock.” 

When she met her now husband Peter Thijs, also that year, she shared her diagnosis with him.

“Ainara invited me to one of her medical appointments,” he said.

“So although I was already informed, I said it was no harm to go and ask any questions. It really takes less than a minute to clear up any doubts or concerns you might have living as partners.” 

Ms Pedroso said they get “a lot of support now”, but added: “When I got my diagnosis I got support from hardly anyone. It was a solo journey for the past seven years really.” 

This changed when she went public with their IVF frustrations.

“In July, I was sick and tired because in Ireland there were no options for people with HIV to go for IVF. There’s no access here because there’s no suitable laboratory,” she said.

The couple are still waiting for change but she has “found my tribe” in support from the LGBTQ+ community.

Stigma

She is also part of a WhatsApp group for heterosexual women in Ireland living with HIV, and said it was “very sad” to see the stigma some women experience.

The couple called on the wider public to learn about the “amazing” impact of HIV medication.

“In all these months I’ve just encountered one bad comment, which shows the people in Ireland are ready to start breaking down barriers and stigma, which is beautiful to see,” she said.

The HSE campaign ‘You, Me and HIV’ is running countrywide.

While data from 2023 shows a decrease in new HIV diagnoses in Ireland, nearly two in five people were diagnosed late.

HSE Sexual Health Programme national clinical lead Professor Fiona Lyons said when people like Ainara and Peter speak out it helps address misconceptions.

“We hope the campaign will alleviate fears about getting tested for HIV or seeking treatment,” she said.

"Please do not delay, we are here to help you. You deserve to live a healthy and happy life like everyone else.”