Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) weakens the immune system by invading and destroying your T-cells, which your body needs to fight off disease. If enough of your T-cells are destroyed, the virus becomes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). At this point, your immune system is too weak to protect you from disease.

There is no cure for HIV but there are treatments available to help you live a longer, healthier life. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) controls the level of HIV in your body so you can live longer and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others. Advancements in medicine and technology have come a long way for people living with HIV — if you find out your status and begin treatment early enough, you can have a near average life expectancy.

HIV can be spread through semen, vaginal fluid, blood, or breast milk. Anyone can get HIV, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, or socio-economic status. You cannot get HIV from just being around people with the virus, or through sharing drinks, hugging, kissing, or sharing utensils with an HIV positive person.

The best way to reduce your risk of HIV infection is to limit the number of sexual partners, use barrier methods like condoms or dental dams during sex and refrain from sharing needles. There is also a medication that you can take daily to reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV if you are in a high-risk group (HIV-positive partner/s, high number of sex partners, in high-prevalence area/network, sharing injection needles/equipment, history of inconsistent or no condom use, or if you are a sex worker). See PrEP section under services we provide.

While anyone can be infected, gay and bisexual people who were assigned male at birth, people ages 13-24, and people of color are more likely to become HIV positive than the general population. These communities also tend to face unfair stigma and discrimination, which only makes preventive education and procedures more inaccessible. It is especially important for people in these communities to find ways to know about safer sex and get tested regularly to ensure that they are healthy, and begin treatment as soon as possible if tested positive.

Getting tested is the only way to know your status. It’s important to get tested regularly if you’re sexually active or have other risk factors. ​Sometimes symptoms for HIV don’t show for a number of years, and the only way to be sure you don’t have it is to get tested.

At Equality Health Center, we offer nonjudgmental and confidential HIV testing.