An estimated 1.2 million folks within the U.S. stay with HIV. However analysis exhibits that lots of them — about 13% — do not know it. In keeping with the CDC, practically 40% of latest HIV infections are transmitted by individuals who don’t know they’ve the virus.
There are a number of causes that will maintain folks again from getting an HIV take a look at. Worry of sickness, stigma, and being discriminated towards 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 understanding your standing. That’s vital data that helps you are taking cost of your well being and stop the viral infection that may cause AIDS.
For Kelly Gluckman of Seattle, HIV was the very last thing on her thoughts when she stopped utilizing condoms along with her associate with out first getting examined for HIV.
“I knew that that wasn’t the neatest choice,” says Gluckman, now in her 30s.
She was 23 on the time, and despite the fact that she knew about HIV testing by complete sex schooling in class, 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 associate determined to get examined to rule out HIV as a precaution.
“We each examined optimistic on Oct. 25, 2010,” Gluckman says. “We had been each fairly devastated,.”
“The speedy thought was, ‘Oh my God, I’ll 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 realized about in class,” Gluckman says.
In hindsight, Gluckman says denial performed a job in her and her associate hesitating to get an HIV take a look at.
“We’d discuss 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 He believes it could have one thing to do with outdated pictures and narratives about HIV from the ’80s.
“I feel there is not a revised public conception of what it is prefer to have HIV,” Pantalone says. “The reason being as a result of what it appears to be like prefer to have HIV now’s mainly the identical because it appears to be like prefer to not have HIV. The life expectancy knowledge between HIV-positive people and HIV-negative people isn’t actually that completely different.”
Whereas HIV doesn’t have a treatment, the remedy, antiretroviral remedy (ART), is extremely efficient. It lowers the quantity of HIV virus in your physique, or your viral load. For those who take the drugs simply as your physician tells you to, the viral load can change into so low that it turns into undetectable on an HIV test. When this occurs, there’s little to no probability of creating signs from the an infection or spreading it to others. Often, you’ll be able to deliver HIV underneath management with medicine in slightly below 6 months.
Gluckman noticed optimistic outcomes quickly after she began taking her medicine.
“My viral load grew to become undetectable inside 2 months,” Gluckman says, including that she had no unintended effects.
“I believed, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to stay, I may 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 at the very least as soon as of their life. Often, you are able to do this throughout your annual well being check-up. For those who haven’t had the take a look at, ask your physician about it.
For those who’re at increased threat, you must be examined extra usually: each 3 or 6 months to make sure. However Pantalone says the dearth of testing additionally outcomes from folks mistaking that top threat for the illness “matches inside an identification” when it’s a virus unfold by frequent human conduct, like having intercourse.
“For those who’ve had any condomless intercourse with any particular person, then you definitely want an HIV take a look at. Even when it is low threat, you need to nonetheless do it periodically, since you by no means know,” Pantalone says.
You are at increased threat for HIV when 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 multiple intercourse associate since your final HIV take a look at?
- Have you ever shared needles, shared injectable medicine, or different drug injection gear with others?
- Have you ever had intercourse in alternate for medicine or cash?
- Have you ever been recognized with or handled for different sexually transmitted illnesses?
- Have you ever been recognized 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 damaging.
For those who’re pregnant, ask your physician for an HIV take a look at. When you have HIV whenever you get pregnant, inform your physician as quickly as attainable. Your physician can provide the proper drugs that can assist you and your baby keep wholesome.
It’s additionally good follow to get examined for HIV and know your standing earlier than you have got intercourse with a brand new associate for the primary time. It’s all the time a good suggestion to ask about their sexual and drug-use historical past earlier than you have got intercourse. If you already know you have got HIV, inform them your standing. For those who’re not sure about you or your associate’s HIV standing, be certain that to put on a condom. This might help defend your well being or cease others from getting the an infection.
For those who 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 could really feel each awkward and disturbing. However coming in ready might help you cope with it higher.
Take an inventory of questions with you so you may get essentially the most dependable data. This might help your physician make a remedy plan when you do have HIV.
Even when you discover out that you simply don’t have HIV, it is a good time to ask questions and be taught extra about how one can assist forestall HIV an infection. You will have heard of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, which might help forestall you from getting HIV. You possibly can ask questions like:
- How can I defend myself from HIV?
- How usually ought to I get examined?
- Does my intercourse associate additionally want a take a look at?
- Do you provide counseling on HIV prevention or suggest a spot that does?
For those who don’t wish to go by your self, ask a good friend or member of the family to go together with you for assist. For those who get a prognosis of HIV, your physician can level you to many sources to get you the assistance and remedy you must deliver the an infection underneath management.
For those who’re attempting to steer an in depth good friend or a liked one to get examined for HIV, Pantalone says it could assist to have them consider how understanding their HIV standing or getting examined for it could assist forestall the unfold to different folks they know.
Stigma and lack of correct care can exist even amongst health care suppliers .However do not let that cease you from getting examined or getting preventive care or remedy.
When you have a spot you go to for well being care and also you wish to begin getting examined for HIV, deliver it up together with your well being care supplier. “And if that supplier is not supportive, then change,” Pantalone says. “Going to a company that particularly serves the HIV group is an effective way to be met with open arms and no judgments.”
For those who do take a look at optimistic for HIV, Gluckman says t’s vital to keep in mind that you are greater than that.
“You might be worthy of respect, you’re worthy of love, you’re worthy of well being, you are worthy of excellent intercourse,” Gluckman says. “HIV is simply the virus.”
