Are You Positive?

More people need to be tested! Atleast you will know the out come and be able to fight the virus. people don't die from HIV in 2008, they die because they didn't know and didn't take the actions needed!

get tested and know!

HIV is a disease now that the Pharmaceutical companies have developed a myriad of drugs that people can take to remain undetectable in their viral loads. It is quickly becoming a disease that is resulting in huge profits for them.

HIV transmission is preventable when there is transparency in human relationships -- in an ideal world that would be just great, but those who do get it are going to face social stigmas and become slaves to the Pharmaceutical companies products in order to stay alive and have any kind of quality of life. They will have to rely on government programs to help them survive financially.

Besides the people in the video who all seemed to think that they shouldn't get tested because they have been in a monogamous relationship for 4 years, there are people who probably would have declined to be interviewed because what they want to do and are doing is not something they want to share with the world and possibly be subjected to ridicule. So they don't talk about it and keep very private and discreet lives. These are people who live next door to you, who you would never suspect are into some kind of kinky stuff -- they could be your dentist, your grocer, your banker, or even your local policeman.

Many people who have these kind of double lives live them in secrecy and the last thing they want is an HIV test to get in the way or expose them.

well done vid Mona! solid production value, strong pace, kept my interest through out. in the learn-something-new-every-day category, I thought HIV tests required a blood sample. I was surprised at the saliva-swab bit and would've appreciated you including some online resources for getting a kit like that

testing facilities should be more accesible, in my town you have to visit the Sexual health clinic, which only opens on Wednesdays (which are always fully booked). Why cant our GP's offer the service, or have saturday openings for office workers?

excellent pod!

it was really sad and scary to see those young people who didn't get tested and didn't know the effects of hiv. i'm only with one partner and we both get tested every 5 months or so. we even take friends and make a day of it.

im not just positive.. im hiv positive.

I'm an American, and I find it shocking how little coverage of HIV is done in this country. As a child, I remember countless music groups, PSA's and celebrities pushing for HIV awareness, to get tasted, practice safe sex and not ignore the virus.

Growing up in the shadow of San Francisco had an even greater impact on me, since much of its recent history is marked by the damage the virus did to the gay population in the 80s.

It's a frightening disease, but living in denial will only create more harm. Trust your partner, and have the talk before you have sex to get tested, maybe even together. If you can't do something like that as a partnership, then you shouldn't be having sex in the first place.

loved this story. instantly got me thinking and googling HIV symptoms!