HIV Diagnosis
Exams and Tests
Getting tested for HIV can be scary; however, the condition is treatable so it is important to get tested if you think you have been exposed. If you test positive, early detection and monitoring of HIV will help your doctor determine whether the disease is progressing and when to start treatment.
Your doctor may recommend counseling before and after HIV testing, and it is usually available at the hospital or clinic where you will be tested. This will give you an opportunity to:
Regina King's Fight Against HIV/AIDS
The November day in 1991 when basketball great Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced he was HIV-positive was a sobering reality check. All of a sudden, the disease many dismissed as affecting only gay men and intravenous drug users had hit a major celebrity. But the news struck Regina King especially hard. Then 20 years old and already making a living as an actor in Los Angeles, King had just broken up with her first love and first sexual partner -- a man she knew had cheated on her with at least one...
Read the Regina King's Fight Against HIV/AIDS article > >
- Discuss your fears about being tested.
- Learn how to reduce your risk of becoming infected if your test is negative.
- Learn how to keep from spreading HIV to others if your test is positive.
- Think about personal issues, such as how having HIV will affect you socially, emotionally, professionally, and financially.
- Learn what you need to do to stay healthy as long as possible.
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