An estimated 1.2 million individuals within the U.S. stay with HIV. However analysis exhibits that a lot of them — about 13% — do not know it. In keeping with the CDC, almost 40% of recent HIV infections are transmitted by individuals who don’t know they’ve the virus.
There are a number of causes that will maintain individuals again from getting an HIV take a look at. Worry of sickness, stigma, and being discriminated in opposition to or judged negatively if a take a look at exhibits that they’ve HIV are a number of the obstacles.
However getting a take a look at is step one to figuring out your standing. That’s vital data that helps you are taking cost of your well being and stop the viral an infection that may trigger AIDS.
For Kelly Gluckman of Seattle, HIV was the very last thing on her thoughts when she stopped utilizing condoms along with her companion with out first getting examined for HIV.
“I knew that that wasn’t the neatest resolution,” says Gluckman, now in her 30s.
She was 23 on the time, and though she knew about HIV testing by complete intercourse training at school, she says as a “white, straight feminine,” she by no means noticed herself in danger for HIV. However after about 6 months of unprotected intercourse, Gluckman and her companion determined to get examined to rule out HIV as a precaution.
“We each examined constructive on Oct. 25, 2010,” Gluckman says. “We have been each fairly devastated,.”
“The quick thought was, ‘Oh my God, I will die.’ I confronted mortality, as a result of ‘HIV turns into AIDS and then you definitely die.’ That is simply what had been drilled into me from what I noticed within the media, and from what I discovered about at school,” Gluckman says.
In hindsight, Gluckman says denial performed a job in her and her companion hesitating to get an HIV take a look at.
“We’d speak about going and getting examined after which we simply would not do it,” she says.
Many individuals nonetheless are likely to have a “scary view” of HIV, says David Pantalone, PhD, professor of psychology at College of Massachusetts Boston. He believes it might have one thing to do with outdated photos and narratives about HIV from the ’80s.
“I believe there is not a revised public conception of what it is wish to have HIV,” Pantalone says. “The reason being as a result of what it appears to be like wish to have HIV now’s principally the identical because it appears to be like wish to not have HIV. The life expectancy information between HIV-positive of us and HIV-negative of us will not be actually that totally different.”
Whereas HIV doesn’t have a treatment, the therapy, antiretroviral remedy (ART), is extremely efficient. It lowers the quantity of HIV virus in your physique, or your viral load. Should you take the drugs simply as your physician tells you to, the viral load can turn into so low that it turns into undetectable on an HIV take a look at. When this occurs, there’s little to no likelihood of growing signs from the an infection or spreading it to others. Normally, you’ll be able to carry HIV beneath management with medication in slightly below 6 months.
Gluckman noticed constructive outcomes quickly after she began taking her medicine.
“My viral load turned undetectable inside 2 months,” Gluckman says, including that she had no negative effects.
“I assumed, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to stay, I will be wholesome with this factor, with this virus.’”
The CDC recommends that everybody between ages 13 to 64 have an HIV take a look at a minimum of as soon as of their life. Normally, you are able to do this throughout your annual well being check-up. Should you haven’t had the take a look at, ask your physician about it.
Should you’re at larger danger, it’s essential to be examined extra typically: each 3 or 6 months to make certain. However Pantalone says the shortage of testing additionally outcomes from individuals mistaking that top danger for the illness “suits inside an identification” when it’s a virus unfold by widespread human conduct, like having intercourse.
“Should you’ve had any condomless intercourse with any particular person, then you definitely want an HIV take a look at. Even when it is low danger, you must nonetheless do it periodically, since you by no means know,” Pantalone says.
You are at larger danger for HIV in case you can reply “sure” to any of the next questions, in keeping with the CDC:
- Are you a person who has had intercourse with one other man?
- Have you ever had intercourse — anal or vaginal — with somebody who has HIV?
- Have you ever had a couple of intercourse companion since your final HIV take a look at?
- Have you ever shared needles, shared injectable medication, or different drug injection gear with others?
- Have you ever had intercourse in change for medication or cash?
- Have you ever been identified with or handled for different sexually transmitted ailments?
- Have you ever been identified with or handled for hepatitis or tuberculosis (TB)?
- Have you ever had intercourse with somebody whose sexual historical past you’re not conscious of?
If any of this is applicable to you, you’ll be able to profit from a yearly HIV take a look at even when your final take a look at was detrimental.
Should you’re pregnant, ask your physician for an HIV take a look at. When you have HIV once you get pregnant, inform your physician as quickly as attainable. Your physician can provide the proper medicines that will help you and your child keep wholesome.
It’s additionally good follow to get examined for HIV and know your standing earlier than you will have intercourse with a brand new companion for the primary time. It’s at all times a good suggestion to ask about their sexual and drug-use historical past earlier than you will have intercourse. If you already know you will have HIV, inform them your standing. Should you’re not sure about you or your companion’s HIV standing, make certain to put on a condom. This might help shield your well being or cease others from getting the an infection.
Should you assume you’ve been uncovered to HIV or have what you assume could also be signs, speak to your physician as quickly as attainable. Getting an HIV take a look at or speaking to your physician about HIV might really feel each awkward and worrying. However coming in ready might help you take care of it higher.
Take a listing of questions with you so you will get essentially the most dependable data. This might help your physician make a therapy plan in case you do have HIV.
Even in case you discover out that you just don’t have HIV, it is a good time to ask questions and study extra about how one can assist stop HIV an infection. You could have heard of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, which might help stop you from getting HIV. You’ll be able to ask questions like:
- How can I shield myself from HIV?
- How typically ought to I get examined?
- Does my intercourse companion additionally want a take a look at?
- Do you supply counseling on HIV prevention or advocate a spot that does?
Should you don’t need to go by your self, ask a buddy or member of the family to go together with you for help. Should you get a prognosis of HIV, your physician can level you to many sources to get you the assistance and therapy it’s essential to carry the an infection beneath management.
Should you’re making an attempt to influence an in depth buddy or a cherished one to get examined for HIV, Pantalone says it might assist to have them consider how figuring out their HIV standing or getting examined for it may well assist stop the unfold to different individuals they know.
Stigma and lack of correct care can exist even amongst well being care suppliers .However do not let that cease you from getting examined or getting preventive care or therapy.
When you have a spot you go to for well being care and also you need to begin getting examined for HIV, carry it up together with your well being care supplier. “And if that supplier is not supportive, then change,” Pantalone says. “Going to a corporation that particularly serves the HIV neighborhood is a good way to be met with open arms and no judgments.”
Should you do take a look at constructive for HIV, Gluckman says t’s vital to do not forget that you are greater than that.
“You might be worthy of respect, you might be worthy of love, you might be worthy of well being, you are worthy of excellent intercourse,” Gluckman says. “HIV is simply the virus.”
