HIV Info

Confidentiality Agreement

By law, we cannot tell anyone you got tested. If we did, we would have to go to prison. We don't snitch.

Myth vs Fact

Myths & facts about HIV/AIDS. Things you SHOULD know.

Here are the top five facts about HIV.

Myth #1: HIV is the same as AIDS.

Fact #1: HIV and AIDS are two different things. HIV is the name of a virus - the human immunodeficiency virus. The term AIDS is short for acquired immune deficiency syndrom. An HIV-inected person is said to have an AIDS diagnosis when HIV has weakened their immune system to the extent that they either have, or are at unusually high risk of getting, certain diseases that are uncommon in persons with a healthy immune system. It is important to know that not all HIV-infect people develop AIDS. Effective HIV treatment can often slow or stop the progression of HIV disease and keep a person from developing AIDS.

Myth #2: I'm straight and not a drug user. HIV/AIDS has nothing to do with me.

Fact #2: Unprotected sex between men and injection drug use are common ways people become with HIV. However, a substantial number of HIV-infected men and most HIV-infected women are infected through heterosexual contact.

Myth #3: Living around HIV positive people can be very dangerous.

Fact #3: You can only get HIV if you are exposed to blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or mother's milk from an HIV-infected person. There is no record of HiV transmission through tears or saliva. So if you are around people infected with HIV.

There is no danger of becoming infected with the virus by:

Breathing the same air as them.
Eating food handled, prepared, or served by them.
Sharing toilets, phones, or clothing with them.
Sharing forks, spoons, knives or drinking glasses with them.
Touching hugging or kissing them.

Myth #4: I can get HIV from mosquito bites.

Fact #4: Although HIV can be spread through blood, there is no evidence that mosquito bites can trasmit HIV, even in areas where there are many HIV-infected persons and lots of mosquitoes. In fact, when mosquitoes bite, they don't inject the blood of the person or animal they have last bitten.

Myth #5: I can't get HIV from oral sex.

Fact #5: Oral sex is less risky than some other types of sex, but you can still get HIV by having oral sex with either a man or a woman who is infected with HIV. The risk of infection from a single encounter is small, but increases with frequency of activity. Your risk of getting infected is also higher if there are open sores on the genitals and/or mouth, significant gum disease or bleeding, or direct contact between semen and breaks in the skin or surface of the mouth. The use of a latex barrier during oral sex can reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Here are More Facts about HIV

The Facts, but Fun!

This ain’t your boring health class. To get info about HIV, challenge your friends to play one of our games and get schooled. Pick a game, any game.

What it's like to get an HIV test

ITS QUICK AND PAINLESS! AIN’T NO SHAME IN GETTING TESTED.

We get it. It’s embarrassing to get tested for HIV and it messes with your rep. No problemo. When you test with Real Talk, we give you a free movie ticket. That way, if anybody asks, you can say you just got tested so you could go see the latest flick.

Why does having an STD put me more at risk for getting HIV?

If you get an STD you are more likely to get HIV than someone who is STD-free. This is because the same behaviors and circumstances that may put you at risk for getting an STD can also put you at greater risk for getting HIV. In addition, having a sore or break in the skin from an STD may allow HIV to more easily enter your body.