How Do You Keep The Romance Going When You’re HIV+
Everyone needs a little love, especially on Valentines Day. Don’t let your HIV-positive status keep you from loving this V-Day. Here are some tips for how to celebrate Valentines Day with your girlfriend or boyfriend, while preventing HIV and AIDS risks. After all, being safe doesn’t mean you have to stop being sexy.
Know Your HIV Status
Knowing your HIV status before things get serious is a good place to start. Equipped with this knowledge, you’re in a better position to protect yourself and your partner. Five years ago, 40% of people living with HIV had no idea what their status was. While more people are becoming aware of their status these days, it’s not worth being careless, especially when you live in one of the countries with the highest HIV rates.
Come PrEPared
One of the main ways, in which HIV spreads from person to person, is through unprotected sex (whether oral, vaginal or anal). Anyone, who is sexually active in a high HIV prevalence population (and it’s estimated that about 7 million South Africans are HIV-positive), is at high risk of HIV-infection. Safe sex is about more than protecting yourself. And since Valentines Day is about love, that means protecting those we love. So, no matter how adventurous you’re looking to get, make sure you have plenty of protection on hand. Fun fact: the day before Valentines Day is World Condom Day, so take the opportunity to stock up.
On the off chance you don’t have a condom on hand, it’s a pretty good idea to be on PrEP, a daily pill that when taken consistently may prevent you from getting HIV. Alternatively, one study has shown that male medical circumcision can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 60%.
Talk With Your Partner
If you’re living with HIV, it’s only right that this part of your life is something you discuss with your significant other regularly. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), partner notification and testing has been shown to increase mutual support for access to prevention, treatment, and care. This is especially important in sero-discordant couples, where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative. The more you let your partner in on this health issue, the more they are able to support you in your efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle – whether it’s making sure you’re taking your antiretroviral tablets or eating foods that support your immune system.
Your HIV status shouldn’t stand in the way of you living a full life or enjoying a little lovin’ – or a life insurance policy.