National HIV Testing Day in June 27

Posted June 26th, 2012 by mfoster & filed under Blog, Member News, Newsroom.

Should I get tested?

 If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you should definitely get an HIV test. If you continue with any of these behaviors, you should be tested every year. Talk to a health care provider about an HIV testing schedule that is right for you.

• Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles or syringes) with others?
• Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners?
• Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
• Have you been diagnosed with or treated for:
•  Hepatitis.
• Tuberculosis (TB).
• Sexually transmitted disease (STD), like syphilis.
• Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions?

For women who plan to become pregnant, testing is even more important. If a woman is infected with HIV, medical care and certain drugs given during pregnancy can lower the chance of passing HIV to her baby. All women who are pregnant should be tested during each pregnancy.

Stigma around HIV remains a problem for HIV testing.  National HIV Testing Day is an opportunity to reduce HIV testing stigma and promote testing! 

Click on the link below to find a service provider location near you for HIV testing.

 

HIV/AIDS Prevention & Service Providers Locator