Healthy Sex
Regardless of your HIV status, you can have a healthy sex life. Here are a few things to consider:
- Talk to your partner -- what are your sexual limits, know how far you want to go before you begin having sex
- Pay attention to your body and your partner's body – HIV is spread through bodily fluids, so you want to be aware of any cuts or sores.
- Use a barrier such as latex condoms or dental dams during all sexual activity, including oral sex.
- Use water-based lubricants like K-Y Jelly or Astroglide.
Remember, you can't tell someone is HIV+ just by looking at him or her. Assume your partner could be infected and protect yourself.
Practicing safer sex also reduces the risk of transmitting or contracting other diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes and hepatitis B.
If you have questions, contact your case manager or your medical provider.
For information about programs that can help you be safer during sex, check out this link.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Living with HIV is hard sometimes. It's not in your head -- depression is a very serious illness. Everyone feels down from time to time, but depression is more than that. It is feelings of sadness, emptiness, or anxiousness for weeks at a time.
Anxiety is also a very common reaction to stress of living with HIV. Sometimes a little anxiety gives you an extra push to get through the day. But, when anxiety becomes extreme - fear of normal life - it may be more serious.
There is ALWAYS help. Problem solving, peer counseling and support is provided to individuals and couples. No matter if you are dealing with relationships, jobs, health concerns, coming out, living clean and sober or other challenges.