Why should I be tested for HIV?

There are several reasons that you should get tested for HIV:

  • If you have HIV, your doctor can monitor the damage HIV is doing to your immune system. He or she can help you stay healthy longer and help you decide the best time to start medical treatment.
  • If you are or become pregnant, you can reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby.
  • If you know you have HIV, you can protect the person you have sex with from getting infected.
  • If you have HIV, it is important to help the people you have had sex with or the people you have shared drugs with to get tested for HIV.
  • An HIV test can give you peace of mind. It is the only way you can know for sure if you have HIV.

Show All Answers

1. What is HIV?
2. How is HIV passed from person to person?
3. What is AIDS?
4. What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
5. Do condoms provide 100% protection from HIV?
6. Should I get tested?
7. How do HIV tests work?
8. What are the different HIV screening tests available in the United States?
9. How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?
10. If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my sex partner is HIV negative also?
11. Why should I be tested for HIV?