Don’t Guess. Get Tested for HIV.
Knowing your HIV status is one of the most powerful health decisions you can make, for yourself and for the people you love.
When did you last get tested for HIV?
If your answer is “never” or “I can’t remember,” you’re not alone. Millions of Americans have never taken this simple, often free step. But guessing your status or assuming you’d “just know” if something were wrong puts your health and others’ at real risk. While some individuals experience flu-like symptoms shortly after exposure to HIV, many others live for years without a single physical indicator.
Each year, National HIV Testing Day (June 27) provides a reminder to pause and take action. Knowing your HIV status represents one of the most important steps you can take for yourself and your partners. If you have ever wondered whether you should get an HIV test, the answer is almost always a resounding yes.
What Is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, weakening the body’s ability to fight infections. Without treatment, it can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), the most advanced stage of the disease.
There is no cure, but effective treatments, called antiretroviral therapy (ART), can control HIV and help people live long, healthy lives. Prevention medications such as PrEP can also significantly reduce the risk of getting HIV.
Without treatment, HIV can lead to serious complications and even death.
HIV Is Still an Active Public Health Challenge
HIV isn’t a relic of the 1980s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV. Of those, one in eight(approximately 12.5%) don’t know they have the virus. Testing offers the only definitive way to know your status.
That last number carries a lot of weight. People living with undiagnosed HIV account for an estimated 38% of HIV transmissions in the United States. As a result, they aren’t getting the treatment they need, and they can’t take steps to protect partners, not because they don’t care, but because they simply don’t know.
The CDC Recommendations: Who Should Get Tested?
Health experts recommend that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of their routine healthcare. If you maintain an active sex life or share needles for any reason, you should seek testing more frequently.
Healthcare providers generally suggest an annual screen for individuals with new partners, multiple partners, or partners whose HIV status remains unknown. Some communities and lifestyle factors may warrant testing every three to six months. Discussing your history openly with a healthcare provider helps determine the right schedule for your specific needs.
Modern Testing: Fast, Private, and Simple
In the past, HIV testing involved long waits and anxious weeks spent waiting for results. Today, the process feels as routine as a blood pressure check.
Types of HIV Tests
- Rapid Point-of-Care Tests: Many clinics use a simple finger prick or oral swab. These tests provide results in as little as 20 minutes.
- Laboratory Blood Draws: A healthcare provider draws a small blood sample from a vein. Labs may take a few days to return results, but they often detect the virus sooner after exposure.
Cost of HIV Tests
The cost of an HIV test varies based on the type of test and where you get it. In general, prices range from free to about $250, with the national average around $84. Many clinics and healthcare providers, including MyAlly Health, offer testing at low or no cost.
The Power of Knowledge: Treatment as Prevention
People once associated an HIV-positive result with a heavy burden of fear. Modern medicine has completely transformed that reality. If you test positive, you can begin Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) immediately.
Modern HIV medications reduce the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels. The medical community uses the phrase “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U) to describe this breakthrough. When a person maintains an undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners.
Starting treatment early preserves your immune system, prevents long-term health complications, and allows you to live a long, full, and healthy life. Knowledge acts as the gateway to these life-saving resources.
Staying Negative: PrEP and PEP
Testing also opens the door to powerful prevention tools for those who test negative. If your lifestyle puts you at a higher risk for HIV, you should consider Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Taking this daily pill or receiving a periodic injection reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99 percent.
If you believe you were exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours, you can seek Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). It’s an emergency medication that can prevent the virus from taking hold in your body, but you must act quickly.
Break the Stigma, Get Tested Today
Don’t let fear or uncertainty dictate your future. The guessing game only causes anxiety, whereas a simple test provides clarity. Knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions about your body, your relationships, and your future.
MyAlly Health provides free HIV testing. It only takes a few minutes, which can save your life!
At MyAlly Health, we offer confidential reproductive health services, physical and mental health screenings, education, counseling, advocacy, and comprehensive healthcare services — all designed to empower and support individuals in their overall health and well-being. Our nurse practitioners and resident physicians proudly serve women and men of all ages in the Grand Forks, North Dakota, area, regardless of income.
Whether you want to learn more about what we do, support our mission, or schedule an appointment, we’re here to help you take charge of your health.