Do I have HIV?

Since the 1980s, HIV/ AIDS is one of the sexually transmitted infections that instils the most fear in people. With the threat of death, many people remain unaware of available HIV treatments (both pre and post exposure) that can help reduce the amount of damage to their system – enabling healthy long lives – as well as the risks of transmission to future sexual partners. The best way to combat HIV is to engage in safe sex, fight stigma, know your own risk and take preventative measures, understand how the virus is transmitted and what the symptoms are.

HIV transmission can occur in sexual and non-sexual ways. It is the transfer of body fluids from one person to another. However the virus does not live for very long outside the human body. This is why you are very unlikely to get it from toilet seats or sharing utensils.

The only way to know whether you have HIV is to get tested. Many people do not have any symptoms in the early stages of infection. Where they do exist, they can vary from none to a bad cold or fever in the first six weeks following infection.

There are different types of HIV Test that you can choose from depending on how long it has been since you think you got infected, and how long you want to wait for results. If you are not sure which test to choose, then your sexual health advisor can help you. It is important to get the right test so that you can be confident in your results.

If you are worried about HIV, then please get tested. It is the only way to know for sure. HIV is no longer a death sentence. With the right medication, you can lead a normal length of life.

Anthea Morris, Co-Founder Better2Know

Sources

[1] Health.com

[2] National AIDS trust

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