Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideoOut 100
CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
I was diagnosed with HIV in June 2002, when I went for a pregnancy test at my gynecologist's office. Both my HIV test and pregnancy test came back positive, but when the doctor said I was HIV-positive I could barely believe his words. I first told my husband that we were going to have a baby. He was excited'until I started to cry uncontrollably. He asked if there was something wrong with our baby. I told him I had HIV, and he went crazy. The next day we went together for his HIV test, and he was negative. It turns out I had been infected by a previous partner who either didn't know he had HIV or didn't tell me so. I felt devastated. A couple of months later my husband and I separated. During my pregnancy I learned a lot about the virus that was going to be a part of my life forever. I attended support groups and eventually delivered my second child, a healthy baby boy. HIV has become a part of me, but it has not taken over my life, because I have learned to survive'most importantly'for my children, who need me. I also have dealt with knowing that I should have been more careful in protecting myself from HIV infection. Unfortunately, as women, protection is a difficult challenge, especially in relationships where men feel that wearing condoms means that something is either wrong with you or with him. Many people in our society also still think that if a woman has HIV, she's a sex worker or a drug addict. I'm neither of those. Today, I focus on educating women about their risk for HIV and informing them that whether they're a housewife or only have one partner, they still are at risk for contracting the virus. HIV doesn't discriminate, and you never know who has it. The best thing to do is always be safe'no matter whom you're with. Norma works as a treatment advocate at a Los Angeles women's AIDS organization.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lexi Love comes out as HIV+ after Trump deletes federal resources
January 23 2025 11:23 AM
Grindr is reminding us why jockstraps are so sexy and iconic
May 02 2025 5:36 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Trump admin moves to end federal HIV prevention programs
March 18 2025 6:10 PM
Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources
January 31 2025 5:29 PM
Celebrating Black History Month with our annual African American issue
February 01 2025 3:28 PM
Tyler TerMeer vows to continue to fight for health care for all
January 28 2025 3:00 PM
Discover the power of Wellness in your life
March 26 2025 12:41 PM
Plus: Featured Video
Latest Stories
Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more
April 21 2025 4:10 PM
Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes
April 03 2025 7:15 PM
Plus nominated for 2025 GLAAD Media Award
January 22 2025 12:42 PM
'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Trinity K Bonet quietly comes out trans
December 15 2024 6:27 PM
AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed at White House for the first time
December 02 2024 1:21 PM
BREAKING: Supreme Court rules to save free access to preventive care, including PrEP
June 27 2025 10:32 AM
1985: the year the AIDS crisis finally broke through the silence
June 26 2025 11:24 AM
Trump admin guts $258 million in funding for HIV vaccine research
June 03 2025 3:47 PM
500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis
April 08 2025 3:51 PM
The Talk Season 5 premieres this spring with HIV guidance for the newly diagnosed
March 26 2025 1:00 PM
Jess King is here to help you live your happiest, healthiest life yet
March 24 2025 4:35 PM
A camp for HIV-positive kids is for sale. Here's why its founder is celebrating
January 02 2025 12:21 PM
VIDEO: A man living with HIV discusses his journey to fatherhood
June 10 2025 4:58 PM
HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts
April 28 2025 2:11 PM
Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring
March 26 2025 12:20 PM
Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times
March 11 2025 3:38 PM
This long-term HIV survivor says testosterone therapy helped save his life.
December 16 2024 8:00 PM
Ricky Martin delivers showstopping performance for 2024 World AIDS Day
December 05 2024 12:08 PM