GETTING TESTED
C O N TA C T U S
Testing is quick and easy. A teaspoon of blood is taken
If you want to find out more information about HIV
and some testing sites offer oral swabs with no blood
you can contact Body Positive Cheshire & North
involved. Your results can take between 24 hours and 2
Wales by e-mail, post, telephone or by visiting the
weeks to come back. Records are not shared with
website…
your GP and are kept confidential to the testing
you are HIV Positive, your GP will not know without
BPCNW PO Box 321 Crewe, CW2 7WZ
your permission.
(01270) 653150 site. This means if you have a HIV test or find out that
W H E R E TO T E S T
[email protected] www.bpcnw.co.uk
If you would like an HIV test please contact your local
sexual health centre to book an appointment with
friendly staff in a safe and confidential environment. If
you do not want to test alone contact us and ask about
our clinic companion service.
Countess of Chester Hospital
Volunteer
Help promote information on safer-sex and support
people living with or affected by HIV. You can register
with Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales and
(01244) 36 30 91
volunteer in an area that is of interest to you. Help
out on World AIDS Day or other health related
Leighton Centre for Sexual Health
(01270) 61 22 55
Macclesfield GUM
(01625) 66 33 99
Northwich Infirmary
(01270) 612255
events. Enhance your CV and employment
opportunities and put back into the community by
filling in a form or sending off for one today. For a
volunteering registration form please e-mail
[email protected] or visit www.bpcnw.co.uk.
Warrington GUM
(01925) 64 42 02
Bangor GUM
(01248) 38 53 85
Glan Clwyd
(01745) 53 44 55
Wrexham GUM
(01978) 72 71 97
Donate
Help support the continuation of Body Positive
Cheshire & North Wales by donating towards the
cause or think about leaving a small legacy to enable
us to continue the vital work needed to support
people living with HIV and the fight against its spread.
Disclaimer: The information in this leaflet is not a substitute
for medical advice from a health professional.
WORLD
AIDS
D AY
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT HIV
The Red Ribbon was the first ever ribbon used for a cause in this way. The Red Ribbon is a symbol of unity
and solidarity towards the global fight against the spread of HIV and to support people living with or
affected by HIV. Ribbons then started being used for other causes and charities.
Some of the Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales Team
showing their solidarity for World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day started in 1988 to raise
awareness about the growing HIV pandemic.
The world shows solidarity in the fight against
HIV and support for people living with HIV by
wearing a red ribbon on World AIDS Day; the
1st of December every year.
Raising awareness about HIV is still very
important as more and more people in the UK
are becoming infected. A lot of people do not
know they can be infected. It is often thought
that HIV is just something that affects gay men
or people who live in Africa. This is not true.
HIV can affect anyone.
HIV is treatable and it is rare for people living
in the West to die from an HIV-related illness.
Unfortunately there is not yet a vaccine or cure
but scientists are working hard to make
vaccines and cures a reality for the future.
W HAT IS HI V?
WHAT IS AIDS ?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus
that slowly destroys your body’s ability to cope with illnesses.
Your immune system protects you from coughs and colds. It
protects you from bugs in food and stops your wounds from
getting infected. Without your immune system you would
become very ill. Not having a good immune system is life
threatening. If you have HIV you are HIV positive (HIV+).
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
AIDS is not an infection. AIDS is a point in time when your
immune system is so damaged that it stops working
properly and you become ill. Progress in the treatment of
HIV means that moving on to AIDS is rare.
C AN HIV POSITIVE PEOPLE GET PREGNANT? C AN HIV BE STOPPED? It is now possible for HIV+ parents to give birth to HIV
negative (HIV-) children; children without HIV. By reducing
the risk of the baby coming into contact with blood carrying
HIV and making sure the mother is on the best medication,
HIV can be prevented from being passed from mother to
baby. HIV can be passed to the child through breast feeding
but your options should be discussed with you consultant.
Although there is no cure or vaccine if you are exposed to
HIV, through needle injury or unprotected sex, you have 72
hours to go to your sexual health clinic or accident and
emergency unit. Ask for PEP (Post Exposure) and state that
this is a medical emergency. A month’s course of strong HIV
drugs can reduce your chances of becoming infected. This
will not be given if you are outside of the 72 hours since
exposure.
H OW WI LL I K N OW I F I H AV E H IV ?
HIV often does not have symptoms. HIV is often found in people’s blood when they have already become very ill. This is
because they have not been tested for HIV early enough and their body’s immune system has become very weak; it cannot
fight infections very well anymore. A small number of people who get HIV have symptoms such as cold or flu, diarrhoea or
upset stomach, high temperature or generally feeling unwell six weeks to six months after infection. This is very rare and
those people who do get symptoms often mistake them for an every day illness like the common cold. Any symptoms early
on tend to pass and so people think they have gotten over their infection but HIV is still destroying the immune system,
unseen.