4. You have an STD.
Having an (sexually transmitted disease) STD greatly increases the likelihood of both getting and transmitting HIV. People who are HIV-negative but infected with an undiagnosed or untreated STD are at least two to five times more likely to get HIV if they are exposed to the virus during sex. Someone who is both living with HIV and infected with another STD, are more likely (than people who are living with HIV but don’t have another STD) to transmit HIV to their partner during sex. It is important to get tested for HIV and other STDs such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia, and insist that your partner does, too.
5. If you test positive for HIV, there are treatments available that can allow you to live a long, healthy life.
Many women (and men) avoid getting tested and knowing their HIV status for fear of discovering they have HIV. However, it’s important to remember that HIV is increasingly becoming a manageable disease. There are medicines available that not only help you better manage your health, but also keep you from transmitting HIV to your partner/s and your unborn child. Living with HIV without treatment leaves your body vulnerable to the disease, and could negatively impact your lifespan and quality of life. If you find out you have HIV, you can get on treatment, improve your health, prolong your life, and greatly lower your chance of transmitting HIV to others. The sooner you get and stay on treatment, the better.
Getting tested for HIV is the only way to know your HIV status for sure. Whether you test positive or negative, knowing your HIV status can give you peace of mind.
To find HIV testing sites in your area, and for more information on HIV and black women, visit http://gettested.cdc.gov/takecharge.
Act Against AIDS is a national communication campaign developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intended to fight the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States. The campaign focuses on raising HIV awareness among all persons living in the United States, and reducing the risk of infection among the hardest-hit populations. If you are living with HIV, or interested in providing support for someone who is living with HIV, visit our other campaigns HIV Treatment Works and Let’s Stop HIV Together.
5 Reasons Women Should Get Tested On National HIV Testing Day was originally published on blackdoctor.org
