Are You Iffy?
Reasons you might be iffy
Different things we do together make it easier for HIV to be transmitted.
There are many options for hooking up, from jacking off to oral sex to topping, bottoming, kink play, and much more. Some of the things we do (and how we do them) make it easier or more difficult to get HIV or other STDs.
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Sometimes HIV doesn't show up on a test.
It can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months to show up on a standard HIV test (also called a rapid antibody test). This time frame is often referred to as the ‘window period.’
So, if you got HIV two weeks to six months before your test, the test could still come out as HIV negative. This is one reason testing is recommended every 3 to 6 months.
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HIV is easier to transmit right after getting it.
About half of all new HIV infections occur from someone who has been recently infected themselves.
Soon after getting HIV, the virus quickly spreads throughout the body and the body hasn't had a chance to respond. Without the body's response, the amount of virus in bodily fluids sky-rockets, making the body much more infectious. The more infectious someone is, the easier it is to transmit HIV to someone else through condomless sex.
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Most guys who have recently got HIV don't know they have it, so they may believe they are HIV negative. Also, they might even still test negative because of the window period.
If you are iffy:
There are lots of places for you to talk things through, one-on-one, with a counselor - that are free or low-cost.
Many places have discussion groups for HIV negative men as well as counseling and support for men who are unsure of their status and HIV negative guys in relationships with positive guys.
You don't have to be iffy if you don't want to be. Whether you are positive or negative, getting tested is about being on the road to health and peace of mind.
AIDS Health Project offers support groups for HIV negative men as well as extensive individual counseling for men who are unsure of their HIV status: 415-476-3902.
New Leaf Services offers many counseling opportunities including substance use: 415-626-7000.
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