Occassionally a reader of the OneLove web site writes in to say that he/she engaged in risky sexual behaviour- such as having sex without a condom with someone who HIV status he/she does not know – and is  afraid that he/she may have got HIV from the partner.

The reader may also experience a big fear of taking the test to find out if he/she is HIV positive or negative.

“I am afraid of going (to take the test) but I know it won’t help. The earlier (I know my status), the better (I can take care of myself).  I need courage to do it,”  Mabel Ebele best sums up these fears in her recent comments on this site.

Here are some things you need to consider:

• We cannot promise you that you haven’t been infected by HIV. The only way to be sure is to get tested.
• Know that you are taking a preventive step to protect your body and your future. There is no benefit to not getting tested, but there is every benefit to getting tested.
• Having HIV is not a death sentence. If receive proper treatment, you can live for a very long time. Many HIV positive people are doing exactly that.
• Talk to someone you trust, and who you know to be well-informed about HIV, about your fears of getting tested. Try to explain the reasons that you are afraid of getting tested.
• You can also talk to your health-care professional ( nurse at clinic, for example), about your fears.
• Also note that you will receive pre-counselling before you take the HIV test, so you already have a forum for you to discuss your fears and learn more about HIV and AIDS.
• Educate yourself about HIV and AIDS. Often our fears grow out of proportion because we do not have the real facts.
• Ask your partner to go with you to take the HIV test. You can also ask a trusted friend to accompany you to do the test.

For more information about HIV, how to find out if you have the virus, and what to do if you are HIV positive, read this section of the web site.

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