Today is National HIV Testing Day! Join others around the United States and get tested today! 

According to AIDS.gov, 1 in 8 people living with HIV are unaware of their infection. About 1 in 4 new HIV infections are among youth ages 13-24 (1). HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus , a blood born virus.  HIV is a virus that causes AIDS, and AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV.  AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Who should get tested?

According to the CDC, the behaviors listed below increase your chances of getting HIV. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should get tested for HIV as soon as possible (2).

• Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others?
• Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners?
• Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
• Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), like syphilis?
• Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions?
• If you have had sex with someone whose history of sex partners and/or drug use is unknown to you or if you or your partner has had many sex partners, then you have more of a chance of being infected with HIV. Both you and your new partner should get tested for HIV, and learn the results, before having sex for the first time.

HealthNet’s Family Planning Title X Program offers confidential HIV testing. The Family Planning Resource Title X Program hours are as follows:

Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays 8:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

To make an appointment to get tested, please call 317-957-2970. For more information about HealthNet’s Family Planning Title X Program and our services, please click here.

To find other HIV testing sites near you, visit gettested.cdc.gov.

Post by Holly Arnold

1. https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/statistics/ 

2. http://www.damien.org/hiv-testing-should-i-get-tested 

There is always a stigma based around everything, however a lot of times that stigma affects the person more than the actual disease itself.  We often focus on the disease rather than helping out the person.  What does that mean you ask?  If you discover someone you know, love, or care about has been infected with HIV/AIDS virus, what would you do?  Would you create distance between yourself and that person, or would you support them in getting the help they need? Many times, family do not understand how HIV/AIDS work and when they create distance between themselves and their loved one it makes it a lot harder for them to get the help they need.

What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus , a blood born virus.  HIV is a virus that causes AIDS, and AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV.  AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

How do you get HIV?
The virus is spread from person to person through blood and unprotected sex, sharing of body fluids; such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.  The virus can be passed by sharing needles and syringes for people who use drugs.  Using drugs is an important factor in spreading HIV, as drugs and alcohol lower a person’s ability to make decisions and create risk factors for HIV to be spread (2).  In 2001, 30% of Americans had the HIV virus under control, and about 2/3 of that 30% who were diagnosed were no longer in care (3).

What happens when you get HIV?
Our body has white blood cells, also known as CD4 Cells or T cells, which help to keep our immune system strong. Once you are exposed to HIV, the virus has to get into the blood. It then attacks the CD4 Cells and begins repeating and breaks it down. The virus will move onto another healthy CD4 Cell and do the same thing, eventually lowering our immune system’s ability to protect itself.  Once the count of CD4 Cells get below 200, someone is then considered to have AIDS (4).

How does medicine help?
There is medicine for people with HIV/AIDS and if all medicines (usually 3) are taken daily, then that person has a greater chance of leading a “normal” life.   With HIV/AIDS medicine, if you start taking it for a while and then stop for whatever reason, you have to then be started on a new group of medicines, as the old medicine will no longer be effective. No one dies of AIDS, rather they die of pneumonia, cold, flu, etc. as the body can’t protect itself any more.

How can I protect myself against HIV?
You can protect yourself against HIV by limiting the number of sexual partners you have, always using a condom, and never sharing needles.You should also get tested for HIV.

HealthNet’s Family Planning Title X Program offers confidential HIV testing. For more information, click here or call 317-957-2970.

1. https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-hiv-and-aids-us
2. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/behavior/substanceuse.html 
3. http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns
4. http://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/how-hiv-affects-the-body

Post by Bhumi Bhavsar