Reasons To Test

Reasons Not to Test

It's a free and totally confidential

Testing for HIV at a Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic is free to everyone and confidential. Any information is kept safe and secure.

You will also be offered free pre and post test counselling to discuss your results and ask any questions.

You don’t want anyone to know

Having a test is totally confidential.

It is important to think carefully about who you talk to and important that you get support and help.

Most people find their families want to know so that they can help.

If you would rather not speak to any family member or friend you can contact one of the organizations in the ‘Help & Support’ section of this site.

It can give you peace of mind

Not knowing your HIV status can cause a great deal of stress.

Whether you are HIV positive or negative, you can take control and plan what to do next.

There is information and support which will ease concerns and stop you worrying unnecessarily.

You don’t know what the next steps will be

It can be frightening thinking about the future and what you would do once you get your result, whether positive or negative.

You are not alone. There is a lot of support available whether it’s from friends and family or the organizations listed in the ‘Help & Support’ section of this site.

HIV is a long-term condition and treatments are available which help patients live long fulfilling lives.

You can protect yourself and others

Protecting yourself against infections is very important, whether you are HIV positive or not.

It is also important to protect your partner.

Sex is a valuable part of a relationship so it is important to be able to enjoy sex without any worries.

If you know your status you can protect yourself or your partner by choosing to practice safer sex and using a condom or Femidom when you have sex.

Waiting for the result will cause to much worry

It can be a worrying time but talking to experienced clinic staff about your concerns and fears may help reduce the stress.

You may want to talk to someone you trust or one of the organizations listed in the ‘Help & Support’ section of this site.

Remember, getting the results will help put you in control of your future.

You'll can take greater care of your health if you know your status

HIV treatment works best if t is used early, and can dramatically improve quality of life.

Knowing your HIV status helps you make decisions about your general health. Keeping healthy generally by eating a variety of foods and taking regular exercise can help to keep your body healthy.

You can also protect yourself from other infections which can become serious if you are HIV positive.

You are worried about getting a positive result

An HIV positive test result can come as a shock and everyone deals with it differently, but you don’t have to go through to alone.

You will be offered help, support and post-test counselling.

Speaking to a health advisor about the test result will help ease some of your concerns.

You will be given information to help you understand the result and there are a number of organisations listed in the ‘Help & Support’ section of this site offering advice.

Coming to terms with a positive result may take time, but it is not impossible and you are not alone.

If you are HIV positive, you can make better plans for your future

Know your result means it will be easier to treat any other problems, if they arise.

Regular health checks will enable you to monitor your health.

If it becomes necessary, you will be able to take time to plan your treatment.

If you are planning on having children, knowing your status means you can reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby.