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What is HIV?

Treating HIV

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Talking about HIV

If you have HIV, you can decide if you want or need to tell others about your HIV status.

Before you tell, think about:

  • Who should you tell? Wife, husband, partner, family, friends, coworkers, past partners, people you date?
  • What do you say? How much information do you share?
  • Is it a law in your state that there are some people you must tell?

There are no right or easy answers. Most of the time, the choice is yours to make.

If you decide to share your HIV status

Think about what sharing your status may mean. Today, people know a lot more about HIV. There is not as much fear about it as there used to be. But there are still many people who do not understand how the virus spreads from one person to another. That's why telling too many people too quickly can cause problems.

Try to keep these things in mind if you decide to share your HIV status:

  • Take it slow. Before you tell a person you have HIV, ask yourself if it is a good idea to do it
  • Does the person need to know? Make sure you are telling the right person for the right reason
  • Telling everyone may not be a good idea. It can cause problems you may not have even thought about
  • This is your decision to make. No one else should make it for you. You are in charge of your own health. It is your right to share your status with the people you choose

Before you bring the topic up, be sure you’re prepared. Get valuable information that can help you talk about HIV.

It is the law in certain states that you must tell your spouse or sexual partner if you are HIV+. To get more information about the laws in your state, contact your local AIDS service organization (ASO).


Learn more about telling:

Your partner

Your family

Your friends

Your coworkers

Next >> Telling your partner

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