Still a good precaution. And definitely necessary for everyone for when life has returned to normal in like three years just in case you meet the love of your life and they’re positive.
Couldn’t share this fast enough.
Rebloging this to add a little more info because it’s very important:
Antiretroviral therapy when used correctly can cause the user’s “viral load” (your viral load is how much of the virus is in your bloodstream), to drop because the medicine prevents HIV from creating copies of itself.
Regular blood tests are done to monitor your viral load, and after taking the medication long enough, it can drop so low that it becomes “durably undetectable”. This means that the HIV virus in you has become so miniscule that it can’t be detected, and by extension can’t be transmitted either. It’s important to note that in order to be considered durable undetectable, you MUST test as undetectable for atleast 6 months after testing as undetectable for the first time.
Also very important, being durably undetectable does NOT mean that you’re cured or that the virus is gone, not by a longshot. The HIV virus is still very much there, but instead of being active, it’s gone dormant in a small number of cells called “viral reservoirs”. This why it’s EXTREMELY important that even after achieving durably undetectable status, you continue to take your Antiretroviral medications correctly. Because if you stop, the HIV virus will reemerge from the viral reservoirs and pick up right where it left off in creating copies of itself, and you will have to start all over again if you want to become durably undetectable again.
This is great advice for people struggling with or know someone who has HIV.
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE HIV+ STATUS TO A PARTNER PRIOR TO SEX IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, SO WRITE THAT DOWN TOO.
If someone knows they’re positive and withholds that information from you, that violates your ability to give informed consent. This is comparable to “sex by deception” crimes, such as someone pretending to be your partner and slipping into bed in the middle of the night. WHEN INFORMED CONSENT IS IMPOSSIBLE, IT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT. IT IS A CRIME NATION-WIDE IN THE USA.
This is not a response to shame anyone with HIV, this is information on how to act responsibly AND NOT ACCIDENTALLY BECOME A RAPIST. YES, EVEN WITH PROTECTION. Yes, some states majorly suck and there is unfair prosecution against HIV+ individuals having sex even with informed consent, but without it, that’s assault.
TL;DR: do the stuff in the reblogs above, but if you wish to press charges, maybe also ask about a rape kit.
I don’t usually reblog stuff not related to the fandom, but this is something which more people should know.
I think it’s definitely worth asking your partner and yourself to take a test of you both want to feel more comfortable, which goes for both sides.
Also, here in uk a lot of gynaecologist clinics or family planning clinics offer walk in clinics. This should take the stress off some people who worry about phone calls or being overheard etc. there’s at times options to see your preferred gender of doctor as well…
