• Log in
    Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideo
    ADVOCATEOUTPrideOut TravelerADVOCATE CHANNEL
    Subscribe
    CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    HIVPlusMag.comHIVPlusMag.com

    30 Things You Should Know About HIV

    HIV Plus Editors
    11/01/17
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    30 Things (Number 1-3)

    30 Things (Number 1-3)

    1. I just tested positive for HIV. Could it be a mistake? Although false-positives aren’t common you should have a confirmatory test, basically a second test to verify your results. The likelihood of two false positives is extremely rare. If you took the at-home test, it’s a good idea to have a doctor or clinic run the second test. 

    2. My partner’s test was negative, are they in the clear? Unfortunately, false-negative test results can happen too, so if your partner gets negative results and yours came back positive, it is wise to be cautious and have your partner retested. According to AIDS.gov, the likelihood of a false negative depends on the time between when you might have been exposed to HIV and when you take the test: “It takes time for seroconversion to occur. This is when your body begins to produce the antibodies an HIV test is looking for—anywhere from two weeks to six months after infection. So if you have an HIV test with a negative result within three months of your last possible exposure to HIV, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you be retested three months after that first screening test. A negative result is only accurate if you haven’t had any risks for HIV infection in the last six months—and a negative result is only good for past exposure.”

    3. How did I get HIV? This is a question you’ll ask and get asked exhaustively, and the bottom line is that you likely acquired the HIV virus by coming in contact with the blood or semen of someone who is HIV positive. The most common modes of transmission include unprotected anal or vaginal sex and sharing needles (regardless of whether they are for injecting drugs or medication like gender-confirming hormones). The CDC says it’s still possible to also acquire HIV through contact with blood, blood transfusions, blood products, or organ transplantation, “though this risk is extremely remote due to rigorous testing of the U.S. blood supply and donated organs.”

    close button
    Just Diagnosed
    Replay Gallery

    More Galleries

    David Furnish and Queer Eye castmembers
    Fundraiser
    Badge
    gallery

    The Glamorous Scene at Elton John's Oscar Party/HIV Fundraiser

    March 20 2023 4:28 PM
    pedro-zamorax750.jpeg
    Activism
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet the 2022-2023 Pedro Zamora Scholars

    January 03 2023 10:39 AM
    Web_lead_amazing_hof_0
    Print Issue
    Badge
    gallery

    The Most Amazing People Living With HIV: 2022 Hall of Fame

    November 10 2022 8:30 AM
    Web_lead_plus151_amazing_people_0
    Print Issue
    Badge
    gallery

    The 10 Most Amazing People of 2022 Living With HIV

    November 02 2022 3:02 AM
    Liz
    News
    Badge
    gallery

    Paris Jackson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Evan Ross Stun at AIDS Gala

    September 20 2022 3:05 PM
    00-shutterstock_1008812092_0
    Sex & Dating
    Badge
    gallery

    24 Oral Sex Tips: Because Less Partners Doesn't Need to Mean Less Fun

    September 02 2022 1:19 PM