By: Shey Homol
It’s Halloween—the fright-fest movies are
playing nonstop on HBO and the kids went all out again in their nastiest,
goriest, or Disney-princess-inspired costumes.
And yet what really scares you are not
those things that go bump in the night… what’s been freaking you out are the
sore bumps in your genitalia.
You immediately think it’s HIV. You reckon
you got it from sharing utensils with a friend who’s living with HIV.
So even before Freddy Krueger could utter
“nightmare,” you went ahead and bought a bagful of over-the-counter antibiotics
that you’re certain would cure you.
If you’ve been in this situation or a
similar circumstance, don’t worry, you’re not the only one who has been
misinformed.
LoveYourself has always received queries
online and even from walk-in clients about their supposed symptoms of HIV.
And before, HEAVENS FORBID, you experience
any nasty side effect from self-medication, let this version of “Trick or
Treat” inform you more on HIV.
“I’ve had multiple partners in the past. I
probably have HIV now.”
TRICK. Having multiple partners does not
instantly result in getting HIV. If you’ve been practicing safer sex by using
condoms during the act, this potentially lowers your chances of getting
infected.
TREAT.
You can only know your status by undergoing HIV screening. LoveYourself
offers free HIV screening.
“I’ve had sex last night with someone who
seems to be living with HIV. I’m running a high fever this morning. This must be
HIV.”
TRICK. There’s a 3-6 month window period
before the HIV antibodies can be accurately detected in a screening. This does
not mean though that you’re not yet infected with HIV. A person living with HIV
can also feel and look completely healthy for many years but this person may
also be transmitting the virus.
TREAT: Practice TSC or the Triangle of
Self-Care:
T: Timely Testing and Treatment
S: Safe and Satisfying Sex
C: Correct and Consistent Use of Condoms
with Water-Based Lubricant
“I visited a friend who’s living with HIV.
A mosquito bit me while I was in the area. I may be infected with HIV if that
mosquito also bit my friend.”
TRICK. No one gets HIV from mosquito bites.
A mosquito cannot carry HIV to infect anyone. HIV cannot live inside a mosquito,
so it dies inside the insect straight away. You also won’t get HIV from merely
talking, kissing, swimming, sharing utensils or the toilet with someone who’s
living with HIV. The primary mode of HIV infection is still through sexual
contact.
TREAT. If you’ve been practicing protected
sex and veer away from drugs, observe the proper precautions as well in
instances when you’ll be needing blood transfusion. Contaminated blood is
another way by which HIV is transmitted.
“Sores have appeared on my genitalia. This
is a symptom of HIV.”
TRICK. It may not be HIV, but it may still
be another kind of STI—Sexually Transmitted Infection. HIV is just one kind of infection that you may
get from unprotected sex. Other kinds of STI include genital warts, syphilis,
herpes, gonorrhea, etc.
While these other kinds of STI do not
instantly equate to having HIV, they do significantly raise your risk factor of
getting HIV.
Among the common signs of STI are genital
ulcerations or sores, abdominal pain, severe genital itchiness, pain during
intercourse, yellowish or abnormal genital discharge, and prominent pain in
passing urine.
TREAT.
Screening is the best, if not the only, way to diagnose an STI. Consult
a specialist for this. If it is diagnosed as such, the full dose of
prescription drug should be taken and the sexual partner should also be
treated. Sexual contact should also be avoided during treatment. Condom use is
advised thereafter to prevent infecting any other partner with STI.
LoveYourself offers Syphilis screening along
with our HIV testing.
For further STI consultation, you may also
visit:
-
DOH accredited private clinics
and hospitals
-
Social Hygiene Clinics and City
Health Offices
-
STD and AIDS Central Control
Laboratory (San Lazaro Hospital Compound) Sta. Cruz, Manila
-
Remedios Health Clinic and
Laboratory, Manila and Cebu City
“I’m scared now that I haven’t undergone
HIV screening. But I’m more scared of what happens if I do test positive for
HIV.”
TRICK. Fear is normal. It’s a primal
emotion. The cavemen used to fear the shadows at night too, until the discovery
of fire made them realize that they’ve been scared of twigs and branches all
along. Fear should be a transitory feeling that enables you to inch closer and
face the unknown.
TREAT. LoveYourself is here to help you! We
have a dedicated case management team ready to guide you through the HIV screening. You may also fill out our online form (http://www.loveyourself.ph/p/i-want-to-get-tested.html)
or send an email to help@loveyourself.ph.
You may also personally visit us at
LoveYourself Anglo located at Unit 5, 3/F, Anglo Building, #715-A Shaw
Boulevard, Mandaluyong City or at LoveYourself Hub (a.k.a. RITM Satellite Clinic) located at 1936-B San Marcelino Street, near corner
Quirino Ave. Malate, Manila
Rest assured, LoveYourself values client
confidentiality at all times.
