Straight Folk – You Seriously Need To Start Talking About HIV

Whereas we might imagine that, at this level, we all know all there’s to find out about HIV and what causes it after a long time of analysis, latest information has revealed that there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go, particularly for heterosexual folks.

Newfoundland Diagnostics have lately performed a research utilizing a pattern of two,504 folks, into public consciousness and notion of HIV forward of HIV Testing Week this week. Alarmingly, their analysis discovered that many individuals aren’t conscious that anyone can get HIV and have by no means been examined.

In response to the researchers, over a million straight folks within the UK consider that they’re resistant to HIV. That is exceptionally alarming, provided that UK Authorities figures present that just about half of HIV circumstances are heterosexual folks.

The research additionally discovered that over a fifth (21%) of heterosexual Brits consider that they’re unlikely to contract HIV, main them to not get examined. Moreover, a million Brits consider that they’re ‘immune’ to the situation.

Different causes for heterosexual folks not testing for HIV embody by no means having unprotected intercourse (18%), not gaining access to an HIV take a look at (4%) and never being bothered to check for HIV (3%).

General, this analysis exposes a sore lack of schooling throughout the UK round HIV and the way it’s contracted and manifests. Newfoundland Diagnostics notes that this paradoxically echoes the notorious tombstone advertisements of the 80s which stated: “don’t die of ignorance.”

Frederick Manduca, co-founder of Newfoundland Diagnostics, stated: “While testing does appear to be growing within the long-term, these findings reveal there stays a considerable quantity of ignorance in direction of testing and its significance amongst heterosexual folks.”

Regardless of a lot of the main focus surrounding HIV being on homosexual, bisexual, and males who’ve intercourse with males testing for HIV, much more folks may contract the illness. Anyone who has unprotected intercourse, exchanges bodily fluids or shares needles ought to commonly take a look at for HIV. Anyone can get contaminated with it, no matter sexuality, race, gender, intercourse, or age.

HIV is discovered within the physique fluids of somebody residing with HIV. This consists of semen, vaginal, and anal fluids, blood, and breast milk. Within the UK, in response to Newfoundland Diagnostics, the most typical means of getting it’s via anal or vaginal intercourse with no condom. It can’t be transmitted via sweat, urine, or saliva.

All HIV checks will test your blood for any blood-borne illnesses and can be found as a part of a daily STI test up. You’ll be able to go to a GUM clinic or sexual well being follow for a take a look at, or you may take a look at at house with a self-test equivalent to Newfoundland Diagnostics’ HIV take a look at.