Dr. Flash provides tips for talking to your partner about HIV and sexual health.
Whether it’s sharing your (or asking about your partner’s) HIV status, find a time and place where you can have a real conversation. It’s important to find a place where you both feel comfortable and can be open and honest with each other, and ideally before you have sex for the first time.
When someone shares with you that they have HIV, recognize that it means that they trust and care about you. Listen to what they have to say and respect their honesty. When you share with someone that you have HIV, make sure you do it in an environment that is safe. Understand that not everyone may treat your private health information as private.
While many people living with HIV have loving intimate relationships, for some, disclosure can lead to violence. To minimize risk, consider telling them in a public space with others around but private enough to talk. Or, have them talk with a health care provider to answer any questions they may have.
