TEST &
PROTECT
EVERY DAY someone in Nevada is diagnosed with HIV, including those with “no identifiable risk.”* It’s time to RETHINK HIV. We now have groundbreaking medicines that can prevent you from passing it along or getting it, even if you don’t think you’re at risk. The first step in keeping you and your loved ones safe is getting tested.
Together, we can win against HIV in Nevada
WE ALL HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY.
The days of thinking that HIV is “not my problem” are over. Even those with no identifiable risk are being diagnosed with HIV. That's why Nevada is pioneering a program that makes HIV testing more accessible to everyone. With HIV numbers rising, getting tested is the first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones. Include HIV testing in your routine to stay on top of your health
GETTING TESTED:
WHY, WHERE AND HOW
Testing is not just about having the peace of mind of knowing your status- it’s about having access to breakthrough treatments so you and everyone can stay healthy.
There are several ways to get tested:
Healthcare Provider
Any time you go to a healthcare appointment, you can have an HIV test added that most insurances will cover.
Nevada is offering HIV screening at all kinds of healthcare offices and appointments, from routine physicals to quick care and even specialty appointments that aren’t related to HIV.
Home Test
If you want to get tested in the privacy of your home, there are home testing kits available at most pharmacies and even online.
If you live in Nevada, Collect2Protect can send you a test at your own home, and provide real-person counseling with results.
Free Clinic
You can also visit a FREE testing location near you to get tested. The link below is a list of different testing locations throughout Nevada.
ACCESS
GROUNDBREAKING
SCIENCE
The last 40 years of advancements have given us medications that WORK. We now have access to groundbreaking medicines that, when taken correctly, prevent you from passing HIV along or getting it through sex and even IV drugs.
U=U.
Undetectable=Untransmittable.
To learn more about how this
actually works, visit:
To learn more, visit:
WHAT TO DO IF
I’M HIV POSITIVE
If you have insurance and see a healthcare provider regularly, call them as soon as you are diagnosed. Treatment keeps you healthy and protects others from getting HIV, even through sex, so it’s important to start right away.
If you have no healthcare provider or health insurance, or just need help understanding what is covered, the Ryan White program can help. It provides care and treatment services like medication assistance to over half the population diagnosed with HIV in America.
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
METHODS
Today’s medications protect you from getting HIV, even if you have sex with someone who’s positive.
PrEP
(pre-exposure prophylaxis)
HIV is one of the only sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that’s now 99% preventable with medications. Make sure to talk to a healthcare provider and ask about medications commonly known as “PrEP.” It’s an easy thing to get on, covered by most insurances, and is an important part of many people’s self care.
- If PrEP is taken daily, it’s highly effective for preventing HIV from sex or injection drug use.
- Consider using PrEP if you’re HIV-negative, have had sex in the past 6 months and:
- Have not consistently used a condom, or;
- Have been diagnosed with an STI in the past 6 months, or;
- Have a sexual partner with HIV
- PrEP is also recommended for people who inject drugs, including those who have an injection partner with HIV, or have shared needles, syringes, or other injection equipment.
PEP
(post-exposure prophylaxis)
HIV can be prevented after you’re exposed, kind of like a morning-after medication. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, call a healthcare provider and ask for the medications commonly known as “PEP.” Using the medications up to 72 hours after exposure can actually prevent you from getting HIV.
How do you know if you’ve been exposed to HIV?
Examples of possible exposure are if you have anal or vaginal sex without using a condom, or the condom breaks or slips while having sex with someone who has or may have HIV. If you’re HIV-negative and not taking PrEP and any of these scenarios have happened to you, talk to your doctor right away (within 72 hours or 3 days) about PEP.
Starting PEP immediately and taking it daily for 28 days reduces your chance of getting HIV after exposure.
Ask your healthcare provider today about PrEP or PEP or click the link below to find a list of PrEP & PEP providers in Nevada.
Condoms
& STIs
Always have condoms with you, so that they’re easily available to you whenever you need them. And remember you have to actually use them, an unopened condom can’t protect you from HIV or other STIs. Syphilis and gonorrhea rates are rising fast in Nevada. STIs can have long-term health consequences, and they can increase your chance of transmitting HIV or getting HIV.
To learn more about
specific STIs
click on the links below.
Gonorrhea | Chlamydia | Syphilis
IV Substance Equipment:
People who inject substances are also more at risk for Hepatitis C, a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs. Consider adding a hepatitis C test when you get tested for HIV. Click on the link to learn more about hepatitis C.
Be prepared ahead of time. Always carry more than one set of clean needles and equipment so you never have to share equipment. Get free multiple sets of clean equipment via the links below:
www.dhhs.nv.gov ENDHIVNV | Copyright © 2018 Nevada Office of HIV/AIDS
PHOTOGRAPH DISCLAIMER
This material is supported by the Cooperative Agreement Number, NU62PS924642, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the Southern Nevada Health District, Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Project. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.