What if HIV testing was just part of your regular sexual health routine?
Whether your partner(s) are positive, negative, or undetectable, and no matter the type of sex you want to have with them, knowing your HIV status, and theirs, will help you make informed decisions about the sex you have.
Many of us know that testing for HIV is an important way to manage our sexual health, but some of us are not getting tested or getting tested enough. So how often should you get tested?
Our checklist tool recommends a testing schedule, based specifically on you and your sexual activities.
Think about testing every 3 – 6 months if:
- you are having sex with multiple partners;
- someone you are having sex with has multiple sex partners
- you are (or might be) sharing drug-use equipment with other people
*You can ask yourself questions like ‘am I regularly using barrier protection’, ‘am I on PrEP’, and ‘are my sexual partners regularly getting tested’ to decide if you want to test more or less often in this range.
Think about testing every year if:
- you are having sex with one person who, to the best of your knowledge, is only having sex with you
- your partner tested HIV-negative since after the last time they had sex with someone other then you, or is undetectable
- you do not share drug-use equipment with other people
Think about testing once in your lifetime if:
- you are not sexually active
- you do not share drug-use equipment with other people
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV and have symptoms like a rash, a fever or flu-like symptoms, get tested as soon as you are able to. It’s important to know that not everyone who gets HIV will experience these symptoms. In fact, most new cases of HIV are happening when one person doesn’t know that they have recently become HIV-positive. The chance of transmission is at its highest in this early stage.
While you’re testing for HIV, it’s good to get tested for other STIs too. STIs increase the likelihood of passing on or getting HIV, so all people, both HIV-positive and negative, are recommended to test regularly for STIs like syphilis and gonorrhea. A great way to reduce STIs and HIV in our community is to test frequently and treat early. You can get tested for STIs and HIV at your doctor’s office, some walk-in clinics or a sexual health clinic. We at HEAL NS also offer free HIV self tests. HIV tests are highly accurate, and free.
The Ally Centre of Cape Breton, Healing Our Nations, as well us at HEAL NS, are places where you can ask questions about HIV testing. They can also help you find testing locations and connect you to services that are convenient and 2S/LGBTQIA+ friendly.
Knowing your HIV status is one way to look out for yourself and the people you have sex with. It can help you make more informed choices about the sex that you want.
This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
You can learn more about where we got this information from at: HSHC, NS Health
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references