Have a home HIV test in my hand - too scared to do it

[KitkatTrack]

Name changed. Don't want to go into background just now but appears I have caught an STI from my ex (awaiting GP results confirmation), since then all I can think about it that he has also given me HIV. I brought a home testing kit from Terence Higgins Trust and I have it here and am terrified to do it. Results in 15 mins. I have no one in real life that I feel I can talk to about this. I've had it for a few days and was going to wait until DS(11) goes to school tomorrow. I understand the Terence Higgins Trust also has a helpline open then so you can do it with someone on the phone if they have someone available. But I have a burning desire to also do it now. I really need to know. I have planned for both eventualities, what I would do if pos or not positive, and who I would need to speak to etc etc. Its just the testing bit

Anyone done it home alone? Any advice?

Why is that relevant ?

It’s also quite amazing that you can take a kit at home to test.

i had a test about 30 years ago. Had to go to a hospital for it, and wait a week for the results. So nerve wracking it put me off sleeping with anybody without protection until I was married and husband had taken a test too. Sex is great, but it worth dying for.

The transmission rate for male to female is 0.08%.

The risky things to do are to have a blood transfusion with infected blood or share needles.

https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/estimated-hiv-risk-exposure

well done for doing the test that’s so brave and so happy for you that it was negative

Really.

First of all: Congratulations!! And well done on taking the test!

As pp said (and as a doctor once told me, and google did and still does seem to agree with her):

In developed /„first world“ countries HIV is primarily prevalent amongst men who sleep with men, sex workers and intravenous drug users. Or people that have sexual relations with the above.

One can obviously never be 100% sure but amongst lesbians and heterosexuals (who aren’t intravenous drug users or sex workers) HIV is luckily rare.

But I would still get a full „panel“ done at your gyno if at all possible. At home tests are quite reliable but not as reliable as lab tests.

And there are (obviously) other STDs as well, as you’ve already found out…

I came on to say this. My ex previously gave me chlamydia, at the clinic I was really worked up and worried like OP has been, the sexual health nurse at the clinic said that unprotected heterosexual sex with someone not from a high risk country is very unlikely to give you HIV. It made me feel better at the time when I was already highly strung from being cheated on/given chlamydia

Thanks all for the support. I wouldn't have done the test today without it.

If anyone finds this thread and has sake worries, Terence Higgins Trust is really helpful and can buy test from them for £15, or free if you can't afford it. The relief is immense. I will still go for full screen. Gp did some that matched my symptoms, 2 back clear, waiting on last one which I'm expecting to be positive 😌

But I have a renewed feeling of wanting to focus on health, and not on anti aging etc. Just to be healthy and at peace

Why don't you have the test at a Clinic with trained professionals around? Best of luck.

You used to. I think nowadays now it's not the death sentence it once was,you're able to do a home test
Glad it's negative op 👍🙂

That must have been terrifying. I bet you feel like you’ve won the lottery. Enjoy the sense of relief I bet you sleep well tonight. 🎉

It's worth mentioning that most HIV tests are only considered reliable when done at least three months after the last possible exposure.

Read the thread.