FAQs about HIV/AIDS
- What is HIV/AIDS?
- How do I know I have it?
- How do I get it?
- How to protect yourself from getting HIV/AIDS
- How and where do I get tested?
- What do my test results mean?
- I tested positive for HIV - what do I do now?
- What is the treatment?
1. What is HIV/AIDS?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.) This virus attacks the body's immune system and makes it difficult to fight off diseases, bacteria, virus and infections.
2. How do I know I have it?
Many people who have HIV don't even know it because they don't show any symptoms for years. Even though you don't show any symptoms, you can still pass on the virus to someone else.
3. How do I get it?
You can get HIV through high-risk activities where you come into contact with infected blood, semen and vaginal fluids. HIV is spread:
- By having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral) with someone who has HIV.
- By sharing needles, syringes and other drug injecting equipment that is contaminated with HIV.
- By using tattooing and body piercing equipment - including the ink - that isn't sterilized or properly cleaned and is infected with HIV.
- From a woman with HIV to her baby (before or during birth) and by breastfeeding.
- By having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) like chlamydia or gonorrhea. STIs can weaken your body's natural protection and increase your chances of becoming infected with HIV if you're exposed to the virus.
HIV CANNOT be spread by:
- Touching
- Shaking hands
- Hugging or kissing
- Coughing and sneezing
- Giving blood
- Using swimming pools or toilet seats
- Sharing bed linen
- Eating utensils or food
- Animals, mosquitoes or other insects
4. How to protect yourself from getting HIV/AIDS
To reduce your chances of getting HIV, you should:
- Use lubricated condoms for vaginal sex .
- Use non-lubricated condoms for oral sex on a man.
- Use a latex barrier - a dental dam - or a non-lubricated condom cut length-wise for oral sex on a woman.
- Use condoms with extra lubricant for anal sex.
- Limit the number of sex partners.
- Not share needles, syringes, drug injecting equipment or sex toys.
- Ensure tattooing and piercing equipment is sterile.
5. How and where do I get tested?
Pre-test Counselling
Before you get tested for HIV, you should talk to your doctor about the test - what it is, what the results mean and what your risks might be.
HIV Testing: What's involved?
A blood test is the only reliable way to determine if you are infected with the virus. Your doctor or health care provider will ensure your blood is tested specifically for HIV antibodies.
Getting accurate results depends on the time of your last possible exposure to HIV (unprotected sex, needle sharing). There is a window period, where it takes approximately 3 months for HIV antibodies to show up on an HIV test. If you have ever had a risky experience, it’s a good idea to be tested for HIV. It’s important to remember though that if you have had unprotected sex (oral, anal or vaginal) or shared needles within the last three months, the health care provider will recommend that you return for repeat testing to ensure that you have waited long enough for the test to be completely accurate.
If you have experienced a risky situation, such as sex without a condom or sharing needles, you could be infected with the virus at any time.
One thing you should know is that HIV testing should be provided only with your informed consent. No health card is required for any type of HIV testing at a Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic.
There are different ways to get tested for HIV. At Peel Public Health Sexuality clinics, you have the option of:
- Standard HIV test – Blood is taken from a vein in your arm and sent to a laboratory for testing. Test results take approximately 2 weeks to be returned to the clinic. Results are not provided over the telephone, via email or text messaging – you need to return to the clinic where you were originally tested to receive your results.
- Rapid HIV screening test (Point of care) – Blood is taken from a tiny prick in your finger, tested and screening results are ready within a few minutes.
All Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality clinics offer FREE, ANONYMOUS and CONFIDENTIAL HIV testing.
Where can I go for HIV testing (including the Rapid HIV screening test)?
You can get an anonymous HIV/AIDS test (including the Rapid HIV screening test) at a Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic. You may need to make an appointment – call the clinic before you visit - but no Health Card is required.
Peel Public Health has Healthy Sexuality Clinics throughout Peel, with locations in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga.
Why should you have an HIV/AIDS test at a Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic?
Peel Public Health knows that this can be a very unsettling time for you. You might be scared that "someone will find out," or you'll keep putting it off because you don't have the best information from people who know. So we want to make sure you're comfortable with yourself and with the test. That's why when you get tested at a Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic:
- No Health Card is required.
- You receive counselling before and after the test.
- Only you will get the results.
- Testing can be done anonymously or with your name - you have a choice with anonymous testing, and no record will appear in your regular medical chart.
6. What do my test results mean?
If your results come back positive (reactive):
- You have antibodies for HIV and have the HIV infection. But it doesn't necessarily mean you have AIDS.
- No one knows for sure when someone infected with the HIV virus will develop AIDS.
If your results come back negative, you didn't have the antibodies at the time of the test. However:
- If it's been 3 months since a high-risk activity and your test is negative, you don't have the HIV infection.
- If it's been less than 3 months since being involved in a high-risk activity, you should do a repeat test.
- Remember, if you put yourself at risk, you can be infected with the virus at any time. For more information on how you can get HIV, check out how do I get it?
7. I tested positive (reactive) for HIV - what do I do now?
The sooner you know that you have HIV, the sooner you can get medical advice and treatment.
If you're HIV positive, you can pass the virus onto others even though you're not presenting any symptoms. Protect yourself and others as well -- prevent the spread of HIV by:
- Always using condom for vaginal, oral or anal sex.
- Never sharing your needles or other drug equipment.
- Telling people who may be exposed to your body fluids, like your doctor, your dentist or dental hygienist.
If you're sexually active, you need to tell your sexual partner(s) about the HIV infection so that they can be tested. And from now on, you HAVE to tell anyone that you're going to have unprotected sex with about your HIV status before you have sex with them.
8. What is the treatment?
There is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS. There are some medications that help slow down the progression of the illness. Talk to your doctor or specialist about the treatments that will work best for you.
HIV Pretest Information (53KB, 2 pages)
