HIV/AIDS: The Dreaded Test and Why You Should Get Tested

I got my results from Medlab today...I had gone into the lab last Thursday and requested for a "fasting blood sugar" and HIV test. This is the third HIV test I have taken in my life and each time I have had several "mini deaths" whilst waiting for the results. I am one of those people whose mind often races to the worst case scenario and I kept thinking "What am I going to do if the result is positive?", "Will I become an HIV/AIDS activist?", "Will I blog about being HIV positive", "I will have to tell men who fancy me that I am HIV positive...which will result in no men fancying me" and on and on and on...

So I open the envelope and "Yes!!! It's a negative result". Now you may be wondering why I was so nervous and I will tell you:

1. There is no such thing as safe sex, there is only safer sex which can be achieved with the use of the female/male condom.
2. Do you ever get to a stage where you trust your partner enough not to use a condom? You're using birth control (of some sort) and not bothered about pregnancy?
3. Does he ever play around before rolling on a condom?
4. Have you ever discovered that the person you thought you were having "exclusive" sex with has also been sleeping with Ama, Amina and Ayesha?

Okay, those were more questions than statements but hopefully that gives you an inkling into my nervousness. My next partner is going to have to show me a negative HIV result before he gets anywhere near me.

Other thoughts/questions are springing into my mind: Is it the responsibility of HIV positive people to declare their status to partners or should we all be responsible for our own sexual behaviour? Why did I think that I should become an HIV/AIDS advocate if I was positive? Am I not an advocate already, or maybe I need to become a better advocate?

From my basic knowledge on HIV/AIDS I want to share the following tips:

• It takes at least 3 months for the HIV virus to show on your test results so if you got your HIV negative results today for e.g. all this means is that you were HIV negative on the 8th of March.
• Most people spreading the virus are those who have not had HIV tests so do not know know their status.
• It is important to do an HIV test regularly so you know your baseline - if you became positive at a future date, it would be helpful to know the period within which you contracted the virus.
• Women are more susceptible to HIV.
• Marriage is a risk factor for women where HIV is concerned.
• Women bear more of the "costs" associated with HIV - caring for the sick for e.g.

Need I say "Go get tested?"

Your thoughts?

P.S: Of course sex is not the only way to contract HIV