Should I have an HIV test?

If you're worried that you could be HIV positive (i.e. you have been infected with HIV), a blood test will tell you one way or the other. If you discover that you are HIV positive, you can then get medical advice and treatment that could make a big difference to your health. You'll also be able to take steps to protect anyone you have sex with and inform any past sexual partners who might have been at risk. If you find you are HIV negative, however, and you're sure that your partner is too, then you can safely ditch the condoms and start having unprotected sex. (But you must remember that it takes three months for HIV to become detectable in a blood test so if you've been infected in that period the test could incorrectly show that you're HIV negative.)

One big argument against having a test is that it can be a very frightening experience, whatever the result. (If you do go ahead, you may want to consider getting the support of a close friend as well as making sure that you have the test at a clinic that offers counselling before and after the result. Some clinics also offer a same-day results service, and some people find this helps reduce the stress of waiting.) You'll need to be confident that you can cope if you do get bad news – you might want to wait if you're suffering from other sources of stress at the moment. If you are HIV positive, it could well affect your relationships with your partner and anyone else you choose to tell. Some employers may also be reluctant to offer you a job and a few countries place restrictions on the entry of people known to be HIV positive.

It can be a difficult decision and there's no right or wrong course of action. Only you can decide, but you might find it helpful to get more information and advice from an organisation specialising in HIV issues.