HIV: misconceptions and realities
This week is one devoted to sexual awareness, and it's also one devoted to taking care of your sexual health. Now before you turn the page, hear us out. Did you know that 30 per cent of Canadians who are HIV-positive don't know their status? Or that HIV affects everyone, not just certain groups? Women especially should read on.
AIDS Committee of London has launched there "Are You Doin' It?" campaign to get the word out about HIV testing.
As part of the campaign, ACOL's males having sex with males HIV educator Paul Sutton helped us debunk some of the misconceptions surrounding HIV to make you better informed about your health.
Getting tested in the new foreplay
Use a condom is what you're usually told, right? Well, it does cover some bases but "it doesn't give folks enough information for risk assessment," said Sutton. There needs to be recognition of the fact that sometimes using a condom isn't necessarily appealing — we've all been there.
Being sexually safe doesn't just apply to those with multiple partners. It also applies to those starting new relationships. Figuring out when the right time to eliminate condoms is something to be considered. "It's easy for people to think the new relationship trumps everything in the past," explained Sutton. Your partner has a sexual past too and if you're both unaware of each other's, that needs to be examined.
Use a barrier first until you know that information for sure, advised Sutton. "Even if you're in a long-term relationship, you should get tested," he said. In fact, by not using a barrier, you're actually engaging in really risky behaviour — even with your long-term partner.
And while getting tested can seem like the least sexiest thing to do together, think about the possible consequences of staying unaware — not attractive at all when you think about it. Having an open conversation with your partner about sexual health isn't about not trusting one another, it's about respect for both yours and your partner's wellbeing. Plus, what's hotter than learning you're both disease-free? You can get busy all you want without that nagging feeling of the unknown.
Moving past stigmas
HIV/AIDS are not "gay diseases." While it's doubtful that 100 per cent of North Americans truly believe that, HIV/AIDS hasn't exactly "migrated into sexual dialogues amongst heterosexuals," said Sutton.
"HIV is more important to think about than pregnancy. We still have that idea that pregnancy is the issue, and the pill and IUDs can make people feel safe."
Part of the reason these stigmas exist is because we don't exactly live in a "pro-sex" society. Remember sexual education classes in grade school? They don't really prepare you for real-life situations, like having more than one partner or falling in love.
"We ill-prepare people to empower themselves with their sexuality," he said.
There's also the anti-drug culture. This generation of young adults grew up during a war on drugs movement, and there was no information on safe drug use. Also, society has never thought well, historically, about some of the groups often linked with HIV such as homosexuals, drug users and highly sexual individuals.
But the reality is that everyone is at risk for HIV.
ACOL has found more and more infections are occurring with monogamous couples. Gay men still have the highest percentage of infections, but their number has stabilized.
It's actually women whose numbers are increasing, 41 per cent of ACOL's client base of individuals living with HIV are women which is up from 28 per cent from 2001, as well as first generation new African-Caribbean Canadians.
Getting tested & your options
Yes, it's scary thing to do. "But it's not something we should feel ashamed about admitting," said Sutton. You and your friends may talk about sex all the time, but are you really talking about sex? It helps to open the dialogue to sexual health in addition to sex.
Not sure what steps to take to get tested? The London-Middlesex Health Unit has an STI clinic every Monday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (get there earlier than the times listed). Want rapid results? Visit the Options Clinic at 659 Dundas Street.
The Options Clinic has anonymous HIV testing and you can call to make an appointment. At your appointment, you can explain your concern if you want, and you will be tested by finger prick. It doesn't hurt at all (this writer was tested for the article and felt nothing), and you get the results in minutes.
What's important to consider when you get tested is the time period from when you had sex. It's best to go three months from the incident because sometimes HIV won't show up in your system until then. Also, consider getting tested annually if you're in a long-term relationship or every three months if you are sexually active.
Remember, 30 per cent of Canadians who are HIV-positive don't know their status mainly because HIV usually has no symptoms. Find your status out!
For more information on the campaign or to see a rapid results test, visit http://testingweek.ca. To learn about the different risk levels with sex, which can increase your chances of getting HIV, visit http://aidslondon.com.
AIDS Committee of London has launched there "Are You Doin' It?" campaign to get the word out about HIV testing.
As part of the campaign, ACOL's males having sex with males HIV educator Paul Sutton helped us debunk some of the misconceptions surrounding HIV to make you better informed about your health.
Getting tested in the new foreplay
Use a condom is what you're usually told, right? Well, it does cover some bases but "it doesn't give folks enough information for risk assessment," said Sutton. There needs to be recognition of the fact that sometimes using a condom isn't necessarily appealing — we've all been there.
Being sexually safe doesn't just apply to those with multiple partners. It also applies to those starting new relationships. Figuring out when the right time to eliminate condoms is something to be considered. "It's easy for people to think the new relationship trumps everything in the past," explained Sutton. Your partner has a sexual past too and if you're both unaware of each other's, that needs to be examined.
Use a barrier first until you know that information for sure, advised Sutton. "Even if you're in a long-term relationship, you should get tested," he said. In fact, by not using a barrier, you're actually engaging in really risky behaviour — even with your long-term partner.
And while getting tested can seem like the least sexiest thing to do together, think about the possible consequences of staying unaware — not attractive at all when you think about it. Having an open conversation with your partner about sexual health isn't about not trusting one another, it's about respect for both yours and your partner's wellbeing. Plus, what's hotter than learning you're both disease-free? You can get busy all you want without that nagging feeling of the unknown.
Moving past stigmas
HIV/AIDS are not "gay diseases." While it's doubtful that 100 per cent of North Americans truly believe that, HIV/AIDS hasn't exactly "migrated into sexual dialogues amongst heterosexuals," said Sutton.
"HIV is more important to think about than pregnancy. We still have that idea that pregnancy is the issue, and the pill and IUDs can make people feel safe."
Part of the reason these stigmas exist is because we don't exactly live in a "pro-sex" society. Remember sexual education classes in grade school? They don't really prepare you for real-life situations, like having more than one partner or falling in love.
"We ill-prepare people to empower themselves with their sexuality," he said.
There's also the anti-drug culture. This generation of young adults grew up during a war on drugs movement, and there was no information on safe drug use. Also, society has never thought well, historically, about some of the groups often linked with HIV such as homosexuals, drug users and highly sexual individuals.
But the reality is that everyone is at risk for HIV.
ACOL has found more and more infections are occurring with monogamous couples. Gay men still have the highest percentage of infections, but their number has stabilized.
It's actually women whose numbers are increasing, 41 per cent of ACOL's client base of individuals living with HIV are women which is up from 28 per cent from 2001, as well as first generation new African-Caribbean Canadians.
Getting tested & your options
Yes, it's scary thing to do. "But it's not something we should feel ashamed about admitting," said Sutton. You and your friends may talk about sex all the time, but are you really talking about sex? It helps to open the dialogue to sexual health in addition to sex.
Not sure what steps to take to get tested? The London-Middlesex Health Unit has an STI clinic every Monday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (get there earlier than the times listed). Want rapid results? Visit the Options Clinic at 659 Dundas Street.
The Options Clinic has anonymous HIV testing and you can call to make an appointment. At your appointment, you can explain your concern if you want, and you will be tested by finger prick. It doesn't hurt at all (this writer was tested for the article and felt nothing), and you get the results in minutes.
What's important to consider when you get tested is the time period from when you had sex. It's best to go three months from the incident because sometimes HIV won't show up in your system until then. Also, consider getting tested annually if you're in a long-term relationship or every three months if you are sexually active.
Remember, 30 per cent of Canadians who are HIV-positive don't know their status mainly because HIV usually has no symptoms. Find your status out!
For more information on the campaign or to see a rapid results test, visit http://testingweek.ca. To learn about the different risk levels with sex, which can increase your chances of getting HIV, visit http://aidslondon.com.
