LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Safe |
by Sal Seeley, LCSW |
It Won't Happen To Me This Time
Taking an HIV test and finding out that you don't have HIV can make you feel invincible, but that feeling can spell trouble. Guys who come into CAMP Rehoboth to be tested for HIV spend a lot of time worrying about a positive test result, and when they test negative it can be a big relief. This is natural and hopefully it will make them want to avoid risks in the future so they don't have to start worrying all over again. Unfortunately, however, some of those guys will think that since they didn't catch HIV this time they won't catch it the next time either and so they put themselves at risk once again. The truth is, anyone who has taken risks in the past and then tested negative, has simply been lucky. That luck can run out at any time. Studies show that guys who get a few negative test results often go on to take more risks in the future. Taking these risks means they have a high chance of catching HIV. So, what's going on? Some men use a negative result as a chance to stay safer. Others think it gives you the go-ahead to continue on taking risks without the worry. Testing for HIV isn't enough to stay negative; avoiding risky sex is the only way to do that. Gay men expect that testing negative will resolve all their issues; this is not the case. HIV tests can tell you what your HIV status is now. It can't predict what it will be in the future, especially if you are taking risks. Some men test HIV negative because they always stick to safer sexbut other guys test negative after taking risks that could have caused them to catch HIV. That's where the confusion begins. There are a lot of incorrect beliefs out there. Some men who remain HIV negative after unsafe sex believe that there is something unique about them that makes it unlikely they'll get HIV. Some men feel charmed when they get several negative results, and believe it's a sign that they cannot become infected. So, if you haven't gotten HIV from having unsafe sex, should you assume it's safe or that you won't ever get HIV? The short answer is no. Some people get infected with HIV the first time they have unsafe sex and some guys get HIV after a few times. Not every unprotected boink automatically gives you HIV but that shouldn't make you feel safe. If you have sex with a guy who has HIV without using condoms, you might not get infected that time. However, there is no guarantee that you won't get infected if you did exactly the same thing again. Leaving your HIV status to luck makes it likely you'll catch HIV, but you can make decisions to stay uninfected by choosing safer sex. Using a condom every time is the most effective way to avoid HIV. Not catching HIV comes down to you and the decisions that you make every time you have sex.A negative HIV test result can mean: That you've avoided HIV infection up to that point, unless you've caught HIV recently, then it may not show up on that test. A negative HIV test result doesn't mean: That you will never be infected with HIV That you are immune to HIV That the sex you are having is always safe enough That the people you've had sex with are all HIV-negative That none of the people you've had sex with are HIV-positive Sal Seeley is Program Director of CAMPsafe, an HIV/AIDS program funded through a contract with the Delaware Division of Public Health. E-mail salvatoreseeley@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 19, No. 03 April 03, 2009 |