Why should a person who has a sexually transmitted disease (STD) be tested for HIV?
A person with an STD has a much greater chance of becoming infected or transmitting HIV, because he or she is having unprotected sex with a partner who also had unprotected sex. When and how often should I be tested for HIV? Anyone at high risk for HIV should be tested at least annually. People considered at high risk for HIV include injection-drug users and their sex partners, persons who exchange sex for money or drugs, sex partners of HIV infected persons, men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual persons who themselves or whose sex partners have had more than one sex partner since their most recent HIV test. Anyone who had unprotected sex or shared needles should be tested. If you are worried that you might be infected, you can be tested at any time. Ideally before starting a new sexual relationship both persons should be tested for HIV. But testing should never take the place of prevention. Where can I get tested for HIV? The Department of Health has free, confidential and
