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Whether Or Not To Disclose

This is a difficult decision to make because disclosure (telling others about your HIV status) can have significant consequences. Consider the benefits as well as the possible negative consequences that disclosure may have for you as an individual.

Disclosure can help you to accept your own HIV positive status and can also help you to access the medical services, care and support that you need. Openness about your HIV positive status may make it easier to negotiate responsible sex and to prevent others being infected.

Disclosure can cause problems in relationships (with your spouse, partner or lover, family members or friends) and some people may judge you. It can be especially challenging to disclose your status to someone you’ve previously had condomless sex with. They may need to undergo an HIV test themselves.

Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are pills used to control HIV. Adherence to your HIV treatment means taking your ARV pills correctly, at the right time and the right dose (amount), as your healthcare provider told you to do. Taking your pills at the wrong time, either too early or too late, or missing doses altogether could make them less effective (less powerful to help you) and they may even stop working for you.

Adherence also means not taking other pills or treatments that could cause a bad reaction (mix) with your ARVs. Using alcohol or other drugs can make you forget to take your HIV treatment. Many herbal treatments and other kinds of therapy have not been tested and should be avoided if you take ARVs. Talk to your healthcare provider about taking other treatments or substances with your ARVs.