FAQ’s

HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen (including pre-seminal fluid or “pre-cum”), vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. HIV can enter the body through the anus or rectum, the vagina, the penis, the mouth, other mucous membranes (e.g., eyes or inside of the nose), cuts and sores or through a vein (e.g., injection drug use). Intact, healthy skin is an excellent barrier against HIV and other viruses and bacteria. These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to another.

Other common ways HIV can be transmitted include:

• Having sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal, or oral sex) with a person who has HIV and has not been treated for it.
• Sharing needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who has untreated HIV.
• Untreated women living with HIV can transmit the virus to their babies before or during birth, or through breast-feeding after birth.
• HIV also can be transmitted through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United States has been tested for HIV.

The risk of transmission through transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low. The U.S. blood supply is considered to be among the safest in the world.

Some health-care workers have contracted HIV after being stuck with needles contaminated by the HIV virus or, less frequently, after blood contact with the worker’s open cut or through splashes into the worker’s eyes or inside their nose. HIV is not easily transmitted. It is NOT spread through the air, through water, by insects, or during ordinary social contact. It has NEVER been transmitted by casual contact

• Although no sexual act is 100% safe; therefore we use the term “healthy sex”, which involves finding ways to be intimate while minimizing the risk of STD transmission. The most important healthy sex principles are:
• The only absolutely “Safe Sex” is abstinence from any behavior which exposes another person to bodily fluids.
• Use barrier precautions (latex condoms) for anal and vaginal intercourse and oral sex. Use a water-based lubricant, oil based can destroy latex. A drop of lubricant inside the condom may increase sensitivity. Nonoxynol-9 may provide extra protection, but don’t rely on it alone. Some studies show that Nonoxynol-9 can cause genital irritation that may promote HIV infection, especially with very frequent intercourse. The effects of ingesting Nonoxynol-9 are unstudied. Use an unlubricated condom for oral sex if a man will cum in your mouth. For oral sex on a woman or oral-anal sex, use a dental dam (latex square), a condom or latex glove cut to produce a flat sheet, or non-microwaveable food wrap.
• Use barriers only once and only on one person. Oral sex on a man or non-menstruating woman is thought to be a low risk activity. There is a risk that HIV could enter through small cuts or openings in the mouth, gums or throat. Be sure avoid brushing teeth two hours before or after oral sex to reduce risk.
• Lots of activities are completely safe and healthy. You can kiss, cuddle, massage and rub each other’s bodies. But if you have any cuts or sores on your hands make sure they are covered with band-aids or latex gloves. Practicing healthier sex may also protect you against other sexually transmitted diseases.

• Antigens can be detected 14-15 days after infection (Acute Infection). Antigens and antibodies can both be detected 21-28 days after infection (Early Infection). Only antibodies will be detected after 28 days (established infection). Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies your body makes to fight against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect the virus. This time period can vary from person to person. This time period is commonly referred to as the “window period.” Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 2 to 8 weeks (the average is 25 days).
• Even so, there is a chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. Therefore, if the initial negative HIV test was conducted within the first 3 months after possible exposure, repeat testing should be considered >3 months after the exposure occurred to account for the possibility of a false-negative result. Ninety-seven percent of persons will develop antibodies in the first 3 months following the time of their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV. Another type of test is an RNA test, which detects the HIV virus directly. The time between HIV infection and RNA detection is 9–11 days. These tests, which are more costly and used less often than antibody tests, are used in some parts of the United States. For information on HIV testing, you can talk to your health care provider or you can find the location of the HIV testing site nearest to you here on our site or by calling 813-515-4408 or 863-875-9351.

• If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. There are a number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your health. See a licensed health care provider, even if you do not feel sick. Try to find a health care provider who has experience treating HIV. There are now many medications to treat HIV infection and help you maintain your health.
• It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities. Consider taking a TB (tuberculosis) test. You may be affected by TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness, but it can be successfully treated if caught early. Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, or using illegal drugs (such as methamphetamines) can weaken your immune system. There are programs available that can help you stop or reduce your use of these substances. Also be sure to get screened for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Undetected STDs can cause serious health problems. It is also important to practice healthy sexual behaviors so you can avoid getting STDs.

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are caused by infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual contact. These infections often do not cause any symptoms. Medically, infections are only called diseases when they cause symptoms. That is why STDs are also called “sexually transmitted infections.” However, it’s very common for people to use the terms “sexually transmitted diseases” or “STDs,” even when there are no signs of disease. There are many kinds of sexually transmitted diseases and infections. And they are very common —more than half of all of us will get one at some time in our lives. The good news is we can protect ourselves and each other from STDs.
• Practicing safer sex allows you to reduce your risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases. If you’ve done anything that puts you at risk of infection, getting tested allows you to get any treatments you may need. Find out if you should get tested for HIV, chlamydia, or gonorrhea, three dangerous STDs, by contacting by calling us at 813-515-4408 or 863-875-9351.
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a way for people who participate in condomless sex to prevent HIV by taking a pill every day. The pill (brand names Truvada & Descovy) contains two medicines (Tenofovir and Emtricitabine) that are used in combination with other medicines to treat HIV. Truvada is currently recommended for cisgender women and Descovy is recommended for men and transgender women. When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection.When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 98%. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently. PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone. But people who use PrEP must commit to taking the drug every day and seeing their health care provider for follow-up every 3 months. PrEP is offered through our pharmacy program at little to no cost. Click here to get started

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. The pill (brand name Truvada) contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) that are used in combination with other medicines to treat HIV. When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection.
• When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 98%. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently.
• PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone. But people who use PrEP must commit to taking the drug every day and seeing their health care provider for follow-up every 3 months.
• PrEP is offered through our pharmacy program at little to no cost

This HIV Risk Assessment is a quick and simple way to give you a sense of whether you should get an HIV test. Answer Yes or No to Each Question Below

1. In the last three months, have you had condomless vaginal, anal or oral sex with anyone whose HIV status you didn’t know, or whose status is different than yours?

2. Have you had a sexually transmitted disease within the past five years, such as Chlamydia, Human Papilloma Virus (genital warts), Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, or Hepatitis A, B, or C?

3. Are any of your current or past sex partners HIV positive?

4. Have you ever exchanged sex for money, drugs, alcohol or a place to stay or have you ever paid a person to have sex?

5. Do you use drugs or alcohol before or during sex?

6. Have you ever used a needle to inject drugs into your veins or under your skin, including steroids?

7. Have any of your current or past sex partners ever injected drugs into their veins or under their skin, including steroids?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you may be at risk for HIV.

• COVID-19 spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouth or nose of a person nearby. Coming into contact with a person’s spit through kissing or other sexual activities could expose you to the virus. People who have COVID-19 could also spread respiratory droplets onto their skin and personal belongings. A sexual partner could get the virus by touching these surfaces and then touching his or her mouth, nose or eyes. In addition, the COVID-19 virus can spread through contact with feces. It’s possible that you could get the COVID-19 virus from sexual activities that expose you to fecal matter. There is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through semen or vaginal fluids, but the virus has been detected in the semen of people who have or are recovering from the virus.
• Further research is needed to determine if the COVID-19 virus could be transmitted sexually. Since some people who have COVID-19 show no symptoms, it’s important to keep distance between yourself and others if the COVID-19 virus is spreading in your community. This includes avoiding sexual contact with anybody who doesn’t live with you. If you or your partner isn’t feeling well or think you might have COVID-19, don’t kiss or have sex with each other until you’re both feeling better. Also, if you or your partner is at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 due to an existing chronic condition, you might want to avoid sex. The safest type of sexual activity during the COVID-19 pandemic is masturbation. Be sure to wash your hands and any sex toys used, both before and after masturbating.
• You might also consider engaging in sexual activity with partners via text, photos or videos, ideally using an encrypted platform to provide privacy protection. Beyond sex, there are other ways to create or maintain intimacy with a partner at a distance. Go on virtual dates together, share music you enjoy, write letters to one another or dress up for each other. Be creative. If you are sexually active with someone outside of your household, consider these precautions to reduce your risk of getting the COVID-19 virus:
  • Minimize the number of sexual partners you have.
  • Avoid sex partners who have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Avoid kissing.
  • Avoid sexual behaviors that have a risk of fecal-oral transmission or that involve semen or urine.
  • Use condoms and dental dams during oral and anal sex.
  • Wear a mask during sexual activity.
  • Wash your hands and shower before and after sexual activity.
  • Wash sex toys before and after using them.
  • Use soap or alcohol wipes to clean the area where you have sexual activity.