Boyfriend is going to start treatment

[clayface]

Hi there, my bf got his second results back and is CD4 number is a little lower than before (almost 500) but with a higher %. The point is that in the last three months the viral load has been duplicated, being around 20000 now. Having this situation, his doctor offered him the option to start treatment... that sounded a little early to me, but my bf wants to take medication right away. So this Friday he his starting with efavirenz+lopinavir (sustiva and kaletra as well as I can recall). I would like to hear opinions about this instance of starting treatment with that numbers and being only 6 months since he was diagnosed as hiv+ (and believing that he was infected around the same time). Wouldn't it be better to wait a little longer? are there real benefits of starting treatment at this point?  what do you guys think about the chosen medication?
Thanks for you comments.

[mecch]

The jury is out on early treatment but there are plenty of pros, even though you'll hear some cons, as well.

[megasept]

True, the jury is "out". I am one of those (a minority here) that favors putting off treatment for years when medically possible (I did). But if your BF starts now (or even closer to seroconversion), I cannot say for sure that there might not be some long term benefit, for instance in reducing the amount of virus in hard-to-reach reservoirs, like the gut. Realize that he might possibly stay over 300 or 350 CD4, and (a bit less likely) VL under 100k/ml for some years more without any treatment. It is each patient's decision if and when to start treatment. Once undertaking treatment, it is very important he be adherent. Frequent exercise, and not smoking tobacco, are too additional bits of advice I would offer all POZ.

Treated or not, you can be a real help by sharing the same healthy life style choices/changes he might undertake. Why not exercise, hike, walk, or bike together? Build stuff. Garden. Paint your home. Take stairs. Prepare healthy meals together, and continue to make long-term plans and choices (like education or career advancement). It takes discipline to make these commitments. A loving partner can make all the difference. Once you both do that (not saying you haven't), you will both feel better, and that will alleviate some of the worry associated with the first months or couple years POZ. He will adjust to his meds. Remaining side effects are tolerable with HAART.

Good health! Steven (aka    megasept)

[bagavat]

If this guy cant get or stay hard when using a condom he should consider using Levitra, etc.  This could solve your problem and allow sex using a condom. 

Without a condom you are putting yourself at risk.