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24 years
I am afraid to do the HIV test.
Jul 27, 2015

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
It is understandable that you should dread taking the HIV test and fearing that its might turn out to be positive. Then again, if you keep procrastinating, the risk you would be taking is significant, because if indeed you did somehow contract the virus, the sooner you do the test (starting from 3 to 4 weeks after the exposure), the sooner you can be started on post exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and this in and by itself significantly increases your chances of clearing the virus out of your system. If however you postpone taking the test and the virus does exist in your system, you would be running the risk of allowing the virus to multiply and then you'd be going from a mere HIV carrier state into a full blown infection, otherwise known as AIDS.
So please do not hesitate and take the HIV test to guarantee better treatment outcomes. You also will need to inform your sexual partner(s) if you test positive for HIV so that they undergo the test themselves and receive therapy if needed. Sexual abstinence is recommended meanwhile.
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