WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS - BLISS JANE, NAUTH NNEWI

Every STD is different, both in the symptoms it may cause and how it is treated.
There is one thing that is the same about every STD, though — the only
way to know if you have one is by getting tested. If you and your
partners want to stay safe and free of STDs, you should get tested
regularly.
Should you get tested?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you need to get tested for an STD.
If you or your partners have any of the symptoms of an STD — or if
you're worried at all that you may have contracted one — you should go
ahead and do it.
Here are some frequently asked questions about getting tested.
Why should I get tested for HIV?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate
that 1 in 5 Americans living with HIV do not know they have it.
Getting tested is the only sure way to know your HIV status.
If you test negative, you can take steps to stay that way. If you test
positive, you can get treatment to protect your partners, stay
healthy, and extend your life and enhance its quality.
Who should be tested for HIV?
If you have never been tested for HIV, you should be tested at least
once. The CDC recommends that you test for HIV at least once a year if
you do things that can increase your chances of getting HIV. These
include:
Injecting drugs or steroids with used needles or works
Having sex for money or drugs
Having sex with an HIV-infected person
Having more than one sex partner since your last HIV test
Having a sex partner who has had other sex partners since your last HIV test
Talk to your health-care provider about how often you need to be tested for HIV.
Do I need to get tested for HIV if I'm pregnant?
Yes. Pregnant women should get tested for HIV at the first prenatal
visit and during the third trimester of each pregnancy. Some pregnant
women and their newborns may also need HIV testing at the time of
birth.
Should I get tested for other STDs?
If you have STD symptoms, or if someone you've had sex with has an
STD, you should get tested asSoon as possible. Because you can have an
STD without having symptoms, you should talk to your health-care
provider about STD testing if you've ever had unprotected sex with a
partner whose STD status is not known.
Do I need to get tested for other STDs if I'm pregnant?
Yes. Pregnant women should be tested for syphilis at their first
prenatal visit and at birth. Without treatment, syphilis can cause
major problems for the baby during pregnancy and at birth, including
blindness, deafness, brain damage, and even death.
If caught early, syphilis can be cured before any of this happens. It
is also a good idea to be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia at your
first prenatal visit. You could go for your HIV test at any HEART TO
HEART Centre. There is one at Nnamdi azikiwe university teaching
hospital, it is free. Know your status today. Thanks