Basics about HIV Screening
The letters HIV stand for human immunodeficiency virus. This virus causes AIDS. Unfortunately, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there is treatment. The HIV virus can be passed from one person to another through different body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
The best way to know if you have HIV is to get screened. You can still feel healthy with the disease. How often you get screened depends on your risks for HIV infection. Some risks include having unprotected sex with a partner who may have HIV or a partner who does have HIV, having sex with different partners or injecting drugs and sharing needles.
What You Can Do
Talk with your doctor about your sexual practices and whether you use injectable drugs. Ask your doctor about getting HIV tested. You can prevent HIV by practicing safe sex, limiting your number of sexual partners and not injecting drugs or sharing needles.
