Hepatitis C is a life-threatening illness that can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and end-stage liver failure. An estimated one-third of HIV positive people are coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HCV-related liver disease is a major cause of death for people with HIV in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). HCV has made headlines recently due to the approval of the first direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents, which promise to revolutionize hepatitis C treatment. Researchers at the 2011 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) annual meeting presented the first data from studies of these drugs in HIV/HCV coinfected people.

The advent of potent combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the 1990s allowed people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. Current United States treatment guidelines recommend that all HIV positive people start antiretroviral therapy if their CD4 count (a key marker of immune health) drops below 350 cells/mm3, and suggest those with a CD4 count between 350 and 500 cells/mm3 consider starting ART. Despite the lifesaving benefits of ART, many people still struggle with the decision to start taking antiretroviral drugs. For some, the prospect of committing to lifelong therapy is daunting. Others hesitate because medications remind them of their disease. For many, the biggest factor in deciding whether to start ART or change their current regimen is the fear of medication side effects.

Two antiretroviral medicines recently came on the scene for people starting HIV treatment for the first time: Rilpivirine (brand name Edurant) won marketing approval in May, and the following August saw approval of Complera, a single-pill once-daily regimen that joins rilpivirine with two other drugs. This article explains the science behind rilpivirine and Complera and how these drugs measure up to the commonly prescribed efavirenz (Sustiva) and Atripla. lines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), currently lists efavirenz plus tenofovir/emtricitabine as the "preferred" NNRTI-based regimen for people starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the first time. In fact, the DHHS guidelines have listed efavirenz as a component of preferred starter regimens since 1998--a reflection of the drug's potency and long-lasting effects. Yet efavirenz has downsides, most famously its association with central nervous system side effects like dizziness

As improvements in antiretroviral therapy continue to extend lifespans and enhance quality of life, more people living with HIV are hoping and planning to become parents. Roughly three-quarters of HIV positive people in the United States are of reproductive age, and multiple recent studies have found that an HIV diagnosis does little to dampen the desire to have a child.

Bones are the foundation of our bodies; without healthy bones, we can become vulnerable to poor overall health. People with HIV are susceptible to bone loss, and to a condition called osteoporosis that may lead to fractures. In addition, as people with HIV are living longer due to effective antiretroviral therapy, bone complications may worsen as a result of aging and long-term HIV disease. Aging, antiretroviral drugs, traditional bone loss risk factors, and lifestyle all contribute to bone deterioration in the setting of HIV.

Since the earliest years of the epidemic, a cure has been the elusive "holy grail" of HIV/AIDS research. Several false starts and failed attempts gave rise to pessimism, and as efforts focused on improving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and managing its complications, the idea of HIV eradication faded into the background.

Barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms are the most commonly used forms of birth control among HIV positive women. Sterilization is the second most popular method and hormonal contraception is the third Hormonal contraceptives, when used correctly and consistently, are highly effective in preventing unintended pregnancy and are also useful for treating health conditions such as painful menstruation.