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Let’s
beat HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus).
Since the beginning of the
AIDS epidemic, men who sleep with men (MSM) have been at
risk for acquiring HIV infection and AIDS. It’s
important to know that having other STDs can make a person
more likely to get or give HIV infection. You
can help stop the spread of both HIV and STDs among Boston’s
gay and bisexual community by learning more about HIV and
AIDS and getting
tested. This site provides the information you
need.
Make HIV testing part of your routine.
If you are sexually active, make (sexually
transmitted infection) STD
testing part of your routine.
You have a few options:
- Visit a testing
site for free or low-cost testing
- Get tested at your
own health care provider's office or health center
HIV is treatable, not curable.
Although there is no cure for HIV infection, a
number of anti-retroviral drugs are available to slow down the
progression of the disease and potentially improve quality of
life. Left untreated, HIV infection may advance to AIDS (acquired
immune deficiency syndrome) — a condition
that weakens the immune system to a point that makes it virtually
impossible for the body to fight off infection.
Additional Information
Learn more about HIV and AIDS by reading the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health's HIV
and AIDS Fact Sheet
or call the hotline at AIDS Action Committee 1-800-235-2331
(English, Spanish) TTY: 617-437-1672 for information on transmission,
testing and treatment services. You can also read about Gay
and Bisexual Men and STDs, another resource provided by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health.
Please note, all fact sheet files are in Adobe PDF format. If the link appears to be broken, or you know you need a PDF reader, please visit the Adobe download page.
If you would like to see a picture of what signs or symptoms of this might looks like, please click here.
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