Why should I get tested
It is possible to have HIV and not know you have it. This means you could be at risk of becoming unwell and unknowingly pass the virus on to others. People can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms developing, so taking a test is the only way to know if you have HIV or not. If you have HIV, you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus on to anyone else. If you don’t have HIV you can make informed decisions about the best way to prevent you getting HIV, which can include the use of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
In England there are around 4,700 people who don’t know they have HIV and are at risk of becoming very unwell. Late diagnosis when the immune system has become weakened can lead to health complications and it can take much longer to recover to good health. People from black African, Caribbean, Latino and Asian communities are at greatest risk of late diagnosis as are white heterosexual men.
Getting tested for HIV can feel very daunting, and many people are put off getting a test because of the stigma and fear of being treated differently by their family, friends and the wider community they belong to. We are here to support and encourage anyone from these communities to get tested during HIV Testing Week. #ItsBetterToKnow.
Where can I get a test
Testing is so easy; you can even do it at home! You can order a FREE self-testing kit HERE. You can also get a test at your local sexual health clinic, your GP and in many community testing locations provided by HIV and sexual health charities. During HIV testing week keep an eye on X (formally known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and other social media channels to find out where you can get a test in your local area. It’s free, confidential and it’s always better to know your HIV status.
What happens if my test is positive
Test results, sometimes referred to as reactive need to be confirmed by a blood test at a specialist HIV clinic. Sexual health clinics will usually arrange an appointment for you, whereas community testing clinics are more likely to sign post you to your local specialist HIV clinic.
If you’ve used a home testing kit and the result is reactive it is important to have the result confirmed. Get in touch with your local specialist HIV clinic so the result can be confirmed and that you receive the treatment and care you need. If you need help to find a local specialist HIV clinic, speak to the team at THT Direct or your local HIV / sexual health charity. You don’t have to attend a clinic in your local area as HIV care is open access, which means you can select a clinic of your choice, regardless of your home or work location.
Our top tip is to avoid using the services of Dr Google to search for information about HIV and only visit trusted websites, details of which you’ll find in our useful links page.
What is it like living with HIV?
The first few weeks and months can feel difficult and having someone to talk to who understands what it’s like to live with HIV (peer support) can really help. Life suddenly has a medical focus, with several clinic visits, blood test and starting treatment. This happens in a relatively short period of time and can feel overwhelming. Meeting the clinical team of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals can feel very intense and you may have lots of questions and concerns you wish to talk about. A peer support worker or volunteer can be a great support during this period.
Treatment for HIV is very straight forward and for most people is well tolerated. Many people will take a single tablet or possibly two once a day. Once you’ve started treatment it will reduce the amount of HIV in the body and over time HIV will become undetectable in the blood tests used to check the levels of HIV.
Once HIV is undetectable you can feel confident you can remain fit and well. An important secondary benefit is that HIV cannot be passed onto your sexual partners as long as you continue to take your treatment as prescribed. It is possible to be considered for injectable treatment which is given every 2-months instead of taking daily treatment. Your clinic team can assess your suitability for injectable treatment as it’s not suitable for everyone. Injectable treatment does require a commitment to attend 6 clinic visits in a year which is an important consideration.
Once things have settled down, most people living with HIV visit their clinic a couple of times a year for monitoring and to get repeat medication prescribed. With the right support in place, you can then get on with life knowing you’re in control of your health. For more information about living well with HIV visit our Plus Wellbeing page page.
What support is available
Contacting your local HIV support service can feel daunting and you may not feel like you want to talk to anyone else about HIV. This is very understandable, yet we know that when people take the leap of faith to contact a support service, they feel relieved and less isolated and alone.
Increasingly, HIV clinics have peer support workers who are part of the clinic team and are there to provide lived experience, emotional support and help you with any practical issues that may be concerning you. If you’re not offered peer support after receiving your HIV diagnosis, ask your clinic if they have this service available in clinic or to provide you with details of the local HIV support service.
Our FREE online peer support service is available to anyone living in the UK. You can register and book appointments online and choose if you want to have video, voice calls or real time text message support.
You can find out more about your next steps by visiting our Plus Newbie page.
