Should you get tested?

If you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you should consider getting tested:

• Have you ever had "unprotected" oral, vaginal, or anal sex (sex without a condom or other latex barrier)?
• Have you ever had sex with someone who was an IV drug user or had HIV?
• Have you ever had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, or hepatitis?
• Have you ever had an unplanned pregnancy?
• Have you ever been sexually assaulted (raped, forced or talked into having sex when you didn't want to)?
• Have you ever passed out or forgotten what happened after you were drinking or getting high?
• Have you ever shared needles or other equipment to inject drugs or pierce the skin, such as tattooing?
• Have you ever received a blood transfusion? (The risk is very low in the United States, but can vary in other countries.)
• Did your mother have HIV when you were born, or did she die of AIDS?

It's also okay to get tested if you just want to know your status. In fact, the U.S. federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that everyone get HIV tested routinely, regardless of risk status.

If you feel uncomfortable telling a provider about your past sexual or drug use behaviors, just tell someone in the VA that you are concerned and want to get tested. And keep in mind: the VA is not the military. You won't lose your VA benefits just because you engage in certain drug or sexual behaviors.

Previous | Next