Women Taking Care of Ourselves  What is HIV?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.AIDS is the last stage of an HIV infection.

Does HIV really affect women? Yes, women can get HIV. HIV / AIDS affects women in every community. Women make up almost half of the HIV cases in the world. Most women do not know they are infected until they get sick.  

How do women get HIV?

• Any kind of sex without a condom.
• Needle-sharing - this could be to inject drugs or do tattoos or piercings.
• Pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding . The virus can be passed to your baby at any stage.
• Blood products or blood transfusions. All donated blood in Canada is tested for HIV. However, other countries may not test their blood supply.

Some people think….…that men pass the HIV virus only to other men during sex.

But that’s not true. Men can pass it to women, too. …that they are safe if they have sex with only one partner.

That’s not true, either. That partner could already be infected. …that you can get HIV from mosquito bites, kissing, sharing cups and plates or taking care of someone who is HIV positive.

None of this is true. …that it’s too hard to talk about HIV because it involves personal details. We need to remember that taking care of ourselves is the most important thing!    How would I know if I have HIV? People who have HIV can live for many years without feeling sick. The only way to find out is to have an “HIV antibody” blood test”.   When should I get an HIV test? If you think that a sex partner (now or in the past) could be infected, you should get an HIV test. I’m pregnant. Should I get an HIV test? It’s better to know, because your baby could be infected by the virus. (The chance that the baby of an infected woman gets HIV is one in four). The good news? There are treatments which can cut down the risk of your baby getting HIV. The earlier you know you have HIV, the more treatment possibilities you have.  I’m nervous about taking the HIV test. How can I prepare myself? This is a big decision. Talk to an HIV counselor to help you choose the best time for the test. Ask a close friend to come with you on the day of the test, and again on the day when you get your results.  What are my choices for getting an HIV test? All HIV tests are free. The results are not given to anyone else. They are confidential. Here are the three types of HIV tests :

• Anonymous testing

• Non-nominal testing

Doctors also do testing using a code instead of your name. You and your doctor are the only people who know the code. The doctor will know the result and put it on your medical chart.

3) Nominal testing

Doctors can test using your name when they send the test to the lab. Your doctor will know the result and put it on your medical chart. You must ask for the HIV test –and agree to it–before it can be done. What do I tell my husband or partner if I decide to get tested? Talking about HIV testing may be difficult. Your partner may think that you don’t trust him or that you have been having sex with other people. Remember that all test tests results are “confidential”. They are not shared with anyone else except perhaps your doctor. You can decide when and how to tell your partner. Take the time to think about how you want to talk to your partner about this. You can talk to an HIV counselor for support and ideas.

What if the result shows that I am HIV negative? If the result comes back negative, you may need to be tested again. It can take up to six months for the infection to show up.

What if the result shows that I am HIV positive? You may feel scared, overwhelmed and confused. Talking with an HIV counselor can help. Women with HIV can live and stay healthy for many years. If you know that are HIV positive, you can make the right decisions to take care of yourself.