Should you tell your family you have HIV?
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Should you tell your family you have HIV?
Sharing your HIV status with certain family members and friends has emotional and practical benefits. Your family and friends can help you deal with an HIV diagnosis. They can support you with the longer-term issues of treatment. They can help you disclose your status to others.
When should you disclose your HIV status?
Check with your state’s department of health to find out the laws in your area. Some people prefer to disclose their status to a potential date or sexual partner immediately, sometimes even before a first date. Others prefer to wait and see whether the relationship develops before disclosing.
Who should I tell about my HIV status?
It is crucial to tell a medical doctor or specialist about your HIV diagnosis. This ensures that you can access the appropriate medication to protect your long-term health. Without medication, HIV will develop into AIDS and become fatal.
Do you have to tell people you’re undetectable?
Having an undetectable viral load and continuing to stay on medication means you are not putting your partner(s) at risk. There is no moral imperative to disclose when you are not putting your partner at risk.
Should I tell my family and friends that I have HIV?
In most cases, your family and friends will not know your test results or HIV status unless you tell them yourself. While telling your family that you have HIV may seem hard, you should know that disclosure actually has many benefits—studies have shown that people who disclose their HIV status respond better to treatment than those who don’t.
Should I tell people I am HIV positive?
Sharing your HIV-positive status 1 Talking to someone you trust about your HIV diagnosis can help you process your thoughts and emotions. 2 Revealing your status to family and friends may be hard… 3 You should never feel pressured into disclosing your status to anyone you don’t trust.
Sharing your HIV status should always be your decision. You should never feel pressured into it. Ultimately, your HIV status is your private information and it is down to you to choose whether to share your status and with who.
Do I have to tell my employer if I have HIV?
Your family and friends can help you deal with an HIV diagnosis. They can support you with the longer-term issues of treatment. They can help you disclose your status to others. They can speak for you in case of an emergency. They can help you navigate the medical system. You do not have to tell your employer.