FAQs About HIV Testing

DO. SEE. HEAR. KNOW. Visit TheBody.com's 2008 World AIDS Day Center >>

HIV/AIDS Basics & Prevention

Just Diagnosed

HIV Treatment

Living With HIV

AIDS Policy & Activism

HIV Around the World

Conference Coverage

The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums

FAQs About HIV Testing

General | Symptoms

General

When you have tested HIV negative at three months or more post-exposure, you need to trust those test results.
Get tested because the odds of you being HIV negative are astronomically in your favor.
I had to get tested for HIV before I started my new job; the results came back negative, and now I'm over my all-consuming fear and worry.
There's only one thing you can do to find out if you are HIV positive and that's get tested, not obsess about your risk and research symptoms on the internet.
I recently decided to overcome my fear that I might have HIV or another STD and got tested; all my results were negative!
I know I'm not alone in "worried-well hell," and I realize that "symptoms don't equal HIV," but I become paralyzed by fear and have waited to be tested indefinitely.
It took me a very long time to realize that HIV is preventable, but now that I have I am happily in a dedicated magnetic relationship with the man of my dreams.
I don't see any reason for people to be offended when you tell them what any intelligent person would: "Stop worrying, your risk is low. But if you are still worried, get tested."
I was one of those worriers who had an unprotected hand job and could not stop worrying about the possible consequences; however once I got tested and got a negative result, my worries vanished.
I, like so many others, had a stifling, obsessive fear of being HIV positive despite testing negative. For all of you out there, do not emulate me.

Symptoms

This article was provided by The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums.

The Body is a service of Body Health Resources Corporation, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Body Health Resources Corporation, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.