Healthcare workers and medical staff can be at risk of HIV transmission. With many prevention strategies in place though, the risk in the healthcare field is low. [2] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Workers in the sex industry are at high risk for contracting HIV from sexual contact without condoms and potential drug use with contaminated needles. [3] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source If your partner has a history of sex work or has engaged in these risky activities, encourage them to seek HIV testing.
Determine the number of past partners your significant other has had. Start by asking, “How many partners have you had in the last year?” Then determine if protection against STDs, like condoms, was used. If the answer is no, encourage them to get tested and ensure that you and your partner use protection every time.
Hepatitis C and HIV are both transmitted through unprotected sex and intravenous drug use. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Both viruses often occur together, called co-infection. [9] X Research source Eighty percent of intravenous drug users who have HIV will also have Hepatitis C. [10] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
If you suspect that you or your partner has been recently exposed to HIV, you may want to consider post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an antiretroviral medication that can be taken within 72 hours of being exposed. This will keep most people from becoming infected. [14] X Research source HIV can take up to 3 months to develop antibodies, which means it can take up to 3 months to register on an antibody test. For a more immediate result, you can inquire about an RNA test, which is more expensive but can detect the virus 9 to 11 days after infection. [15] X Research source You can seek testing from your regular physician, and women can seek testing from their gynecologist. If you don’t have a regular practitioner that you see, or if you’d like to remain anonymous, you can get tested at some Planned Parenthood clinics. You can also use the AIDS. gov clinic locator. [16] X Research source
If you suspect that you or your partner has been recently exposed to HIV, you may want to consider post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an antiretroviral medication that can be taken within 72 hours of being exposed. This will keep most people from becoming infected. [14] X Research source HIV can take up to 3 months to develop antibodies, which means it can take up to 3 months to register on an antibody test. For a more immediate result, you can inquire about an RNA test, which is more expensive but can detect the virus 9 to 11 days after infection. [15] X Research source You can seek testing from your regular physician, and women can seek testing from their gynecologist. If you don’t have a regular practitioner that you see, or if you’d like to remain anonymous, you can get tested at some Planned Parenthood clinics. You can also use the AIDS. gov clinic locator. [16] X Research source
