Dear Counsellor:

I'm an unmarried man. I have many girlfriends. I need to take the HIV test so that I can decide what to do about my sex life. To tell you the truth, I really did not care, at first, but my friend got sick and died of AIDS five months ago and this has really shaken me. What if I test HIV-positive or what if I test HIV negative?

Jimmy

Dear Jimmy:

Whether your test result is positive or negative, you need to start practising safer sex, immediately, to avoid infection or reinfection, and to protect your partners. Remember, the more sex partners you have, the greater your chances of becoming infected. AIDS Affairs is sorry to hear that your friend died of AIDS but pleased to know that you became aware that you could become infected if you don't change your sexual behaviour.

It is important for you to seek counselling. Counselling, along with support from friends and peers, will help you to practise safer sex more effectively. Everyone needs to practise safer sex, whether they are infected.

Is problem physical or mental?

Dear Counsellor:

I'm seeking help for my girlfriend, who had unprotected sex with a man she did not know well. She is worried that she may be HIV-infected but I have a feeling that she is worried because she is not seeing the man as often as she used to see him. Should my girlfriend take the HIV test?

Concerned Friend

Dear Concerned Friend:

Encourage your girlfriend to seek counselling. A counsellor could help her understand her risk of HIV infection. The counsellor can also help your friend to explore whether her anxiety is really about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, or whether she is using HIV to seek help for another problem. If she has a realistic and genuine worry about HIV, the test may help her. If she is really worried about something else, the test will not help at all, even if it is negative, and she is likely to continue to ask for more tests until somebody recognises her need to talk about what is really worrying her.

For more information on condom use, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, call the AIDS/STD Helpline at 967-3830, 967-3764 or toll free at

1888-991-4444 or write to AIDS Affairs c/o the Star, 7 North Street, Kingston.