{"id":58395,"date":"2017-11-29T14:00:38","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T19:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/im-participating-in-an-hiv-testing-clinic-on-my-campus-heres-why-you-should-too\/"},"modified":"2017-11-29T14:00:38","modified_gmt":"2017-11-29T19:00:38","slug":"im-participating-in-an-hiv-testing-clinic-on-my-campus-heres-why-you-should-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/im-participating-in-an-hiv-testing-clinic-on-my-campus-heres-why-you-should-too\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m participating in an HIV testing clinic on my campus. Here’s why you should too."},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m participating in an HIV testing clinic on my campus. Here’s why you should too.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Antonio E. Hernandez<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When I have sex<\/a>, I use a condom.<\/p>\n

HIV can only be transmitted through certain<\/a><\/em> bodily fluids. (Saliva is not one of them<\/a>!) There are multiple factors that may affect your likelihood of being at risk for HIV and other STDs.\u00a0In 2015, youth accounted for 22% of new diagnoses nationally<\/a>, and young Black\u00a0and Latinx\u00a0LGBTQIA+ folks were especially affected. Since I am gay<\/a> and Latino, I\u2019m more at risk.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m not scared, though. I knew the guy<\/a> I was with, we played safe<\/a>, and I\u2019ve been feeling great.\u00a0 Nonetheless, I know that some people with HIV don\u2019t experience any symptoms at all right away, so they may have sex<\/a> without knowing whether or not they\u2019ve been infected. Commonly, folks may experience fever or vomiting, among other symptoms<\/a>, within 2-4 weeks of the infection. These symptoms can last longer and people often dismiss them as the flu.<\/p>\n

The only way to know is to get tested. There are different kinds of tests<\/a>. A 4th-generation antigen test or a nucleic acid test (NAT) can give you very accurate results within a couple<\/a> of weeks of the encounter. But if you want quick results, there are options available for that, too<\/a>. After having sex<\/a>, I waited a couple<\/a> of weeks to get tested. I got a rapid test and got my results a few minutes later.<\/p>\n

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The test came out negative. The virus, however, could hide for a few months<\/a>, so it\u2019s always good to come back to your testing center and make sure your results are consistent. That\u2019s why I\u2019m getting tested this World AIDS Day on my college campus.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m getting tested because, if you\u2019re sexually active\u2014no matter whether you are straight or not, monogamous or not\u2014you should get tested regularly.<\/strong> Knowledge is power and freedom. You should feel free to enjoy your sex<\/a> life without preoccupations like being unsure about your status.<\/p>\n

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Thanks to recent advances in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-positive people now live<\/a> longer and healthier lives. ART decreases the viral load in an HIV+ person, rendering the virus undetectable. FYI, this means that they CAN\u2019T transmit the virus to others<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are also ways to prevent HIV almost completely, such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP),but preventive methods like PrEP need to be complemented by traditional methods like condoms because PrEP does not protect you from other STDs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Despite these new advances in prevention and treatment, HIV and AIDS remain among the world’s most significant public health challenges<\/a>, particularly in low and middle-income communities and countries. In 2015, 39,513 people<\/a> were diagnosed with HIV in the U.S. and Texas ranked third nationally [AB1]\u00a0in HIV infections. And in Central Texas, where I live<\/a>, 40% of new HIV infections are in youth ages 15-29, 60% of whom don\u2019t even know they\u2019re infected<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This World AIDS Day (Dec.1st), AIDS Services of Austin <\/a>(ASA) is coming to my college campus to provide free testing. ASA offers direct services and prevention education for everyone. In addition to assisting folks living with HIV with medical care, ASA raises awareness about HIV, since 1 in 5 people in central Texas are not aware of their HIV status <\/a>. And when they do know, they\u2019re more likely to seek out treatment.<\/p>\n

Much of the progress we\u2019ve made is thanks to organizations like AIDS Services of Austin, so my friends and I are fundraising money for this organization<\/a> in order to keep providing essential services to my community. We know that every dollar counts, and our donations will dramatically benefit many lives.<\/p>\n

Play safe, and know your status.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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November 29, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n