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Taking the
test Talk to your partner(s) about sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and your health before you have sex. You can pass on an STI without knowing you have it. During sex, you can use latex condoms and a spermicide to lower your chances of getting STI’s.
What is an HIV test? The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody test is a blood test that tells if you have been infected with HIV. HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Antibodies develop when you have a virus. The antibodies try to fight off the infection. The HIV antibody test does not tell you whether you have developed AIDS. What does HIV positive mean? If you have HIV antibodies in your blood it means you are infected with HIV. A positive result does not mean that you have AIDS. It does not tell you when you were infected, or if you will develop AIDS. It does mean that you can carry the virus in your blood, semen or vaginal fluids. You can pass the virus on to others through unprotected sex or sharing needles. Women can pass the virus on to their baby during pregnancy or while breast feeding. What does HIV negative mean? If your HIV test result is
negative it could mean that you are not infected. It could also mean that there
hasn’t been enough time for enough antibodies to have developed yet. It can
take 3½ months after you last had unprotected sex or after you shared a needle
for antibodies to form in your blood if you have been infected. If you get
tested too Should you get tested for HIV? This is a hard choice to make. If you or your partner(s) have had unprotected vaginal sex (penis into vagina) or unprotected anal sex (penis into anus) or if you have shared needles or have had a blood transfusion before 1985, you may want to get tested for HIV. Talk to a doctor, nurse or counsellor to help you decide if you should take an HIV test. If you are pregnant, you should be tested because there are drugs that can be given to HIV positive pregnant women which may protect the baby. Negative or positive, it’s important to play it safe! You can reduce your risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections by practising safer sex and never sharing needles and syringes. Make talking about health a part of your sexual relationship. Talk about sexually transmitted infections and protection with your partner(s) before you have sex. Using latex condoms can reduce your risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). [ Source of the picture: www.avert.org ] |
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