Other Dating Issues for People Living with HIV
Almost everyone has some trial runs before finding that special person! Whether or not you are living with HIV, dating almost always includes some rejection, and it is important to be prepared for that. Remember that dating is a process of finding the right person for you.Attend a support group for women living with HIV and ask others how they handle disclosure and dating. Get advice from those who have done this before.Also consider whether you really want to be with a person who might react in this way. If you are concerned about a really negative or possibly violent reaction, consider disclosing in a public place or with a friend present.If you date a person living with HIV, do not spend so much time caring for him or her that you do not care for yourself.
It will make it easier for you to talk about living with HIV. Read up on HIV, safer sex, treatment as prevention, HIV transmission and U=U (no chance of transmitting HIV if you are on treatment and your viral load is undetectable).Tell the other person when you are both sober.Consider having "the talk" well before you find yourself in a sexual situation.You may increase the chances that your partner will react with anger or violence.How would you feel if a date waited until after the two of you had sex to mention that he or she was married? Some people lose their trust in sexual partners who hide important information.You can still get other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as herpes, chlamydia, or another strain of HIV. If you have sex without condoms or other barriers, you are in danger, too.To look at the HIV laws in each state of the US, go to this website. Even if you practice safer sex - including having an undetectable viral load, which makes transmission to your partners impossible - and even if your partner does not acquire HIV from this contact, laws in many states and countries unfairly punish people with HIV for engaging in sex without disclosing that they are living with HIV.There are several reasons why it may be safer for you NOT to do this: You may wish to wait to disclose your status until after a sexual encounter for fear of rejection or embarrassment.
View other episodes in the A Girl Like Me LIVE series Tell Before Sex Is one of these approaches better than the other? Not really – it is a personal choice.ĭating and Disclosure: Hear two phenomenal leaders, Ci Ci Covin and Marissa Gonzalez, talk about their personal experiences and challenges with disclosure along their journeys living with HIV on this episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE!
Other Dating Issues for People Living with HIVĭating can be tricky for anyone, but if you are living with HIV, there are some extra things to think about.