The most important thing is to try to protect your relationship with your lover. If you or your lover do not feel like having sex, or if you are going through a hard time trying to adjust to your new situation, try not to get angry or resentful with each other. Try not to blame each other for your feelings. It is better to talk calmly -- to share your fears and emotions.

You may find that some of your family and friends who know or suspect that you have HIV will draw back from physical contact with you. Try not to be angry with them. Some of them will realize, given time, that they have nothing to be afraid of. If you, your partner or your family need help to deal with this, there are people who can talk to you in confidence. There is no need for you to feel that you are alone or that nobody can help you.

If you have been unwell for a while, you may have lost your desire for sex. This does not mean that you have to give up close physical contact with your partner. If you don't feel like sex, you can show your love in other ways -- holding, cuddling, stroking, touching, kissing and talking together. In this way you are not depriving yourself or your partner of loving physical contact. This is very important if you are to protect your relationship.

If you have special friends whom you always hug and kiss, you do not need to feel that you are putting them at risk and it goes without saying that if you have children, they need your hugs and kisses as much as you need theirs!