HIV / AIDS

Life is a party!

It is absolutely possible to live the life you always dreamed of with HIV. If you think you may be at risk for getting HIV, PrEP or PEP may be great options for you! If you get HIV, you can take 1 pill every day that will make it nearly impossible for you to spread HIV. Our clinic can work with you to create a treatment plan that works best for you!

HIV = human

immunodeficiency

virus

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immune system

not working as it should

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stays in your body throughout your life… not curable but manageable

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that can be spread by body fluids… aka blood, breast milk, vaginal or rectal fluids, and precum/cum from a penis. If you are having unprotected sex, sharing needles, or doing anything that involves being in contact with another person’s bodily fluids, you are at risk for getting HIV.

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HIV affects your immune system’s ability to protect you. If you are living with HIV and not taking your HIV treatment medication, the HIV causes your body to have a weak defense system to attack any other viruses that enter your body. This is why creating a treatment plan is incredibly important if you test positive for HIV.

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Medications now make it possible to protect your immune system despite having HIV, so that you can live your life without the same fears historically attached to having HIV. These medications decrease the amount of HIV in your body to the point where the virus is “undetectable.” This means that with proper medication and management, your immune system can recover, and you cannot pass HIV to your partners or children.

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If you think you may be at risk for getting HIV, our clinic can help you find methods of protection that work for you and your everyday life! If you have HIV and need help creating a treatment plan or getting medication, reach out we can get set up with an appointment at our clinc. We want to make your life as stress-free as possible when it comes to protecting yourself from or managing HIV - so you can carry on with the party!

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What about AIDS?

♤ AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

♧ HIV ≠ AIDS

♡ AIDS is the advanced form of HIV that occurs when HIV goes untreated

⬇️ RSVP

The most important first step is finding out your HIV status. Project STAY offers a FREE finger prick test with results in 30 mins! Come test at an upcoming event or make an appointment with our clinic for a HIV test ASAP!

HIV Rapid Test

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HIV Rapid Test 🪩

3 Steps in 30 mins!

Finger Prick

Blood Drop Collection

30-Minute Wait

**If you test positive from a rapid test, this is a “preliminary” result. This means in order to confirm that you are positive for HIV, you would need to come into our clinic for a “confirmatory” test that requires a blood draw.

Upcoming Testing Events

Can’t wait for an event? Text us to come in for a HIV test ASAP

Common Qs

  • Check out our PrEP + PEP page to explore the meds, what makes them different, and all the types available!

  • It takes up to 90 days after an exposure (like sex) for HIV to show up in your system on a rapid fingerprick HIV test. A traditional blood draw test performed at a clinic or hospital can detect HIV about 18 days after an exposure. There are multiple testing methods that you can choose from depending on preference, availability, and time since potential HIV exposure. Text our team to find out which testing option may be best for you.

  • HIV/AIDS has a painful history, including intense social stigma, that led to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths during the 1980s crisis in the U.S.. Today, HIV-related stigma affects prevention, making it even more difficult for people to disclose their HIV status and discouraging some people from testing for HIV.

    While the stigma surrounding HIV can make a positive diagnosis overwhelming, it is incredibly important to note the medical advancements that make it possible to live a very happy, healthy, and long life with HIV!