No. 3 Letters

NOTE: Since responses to questions may take up to one week, "Paging Dr. WEBster" is not designed to be an emergency service or a replacement for counseling or psychotherapy. This question-and-answer forum is designed to provide information and assistance on a variety of issues. If you are in crisis, please link to the Urgent Situation? page now for more immediate help. If you feel you need counseling soon, call or drop by the Counseling Center (Shoemaker Building, 301-314-7651) or the Mental Health Service of the Health Center (301-314-8106). If you do not live in the College Park area, or you are not a student of the University of Maryland, please check your local telephone book for services in your area.

Question of the Week:

Dear Dr. WEBster,

I'm really afraid that I have HIV. I think about it all the time. The truth is that I don't have any real reason to believe that I have it, I've only slept with two guys in my life. But, for some reason I have freaked myself out about it to the point that I think about it at least once a day. The thought of going to some nasty clinic and getting tested is terrifying. What should I do?

Afraid in Anne Arundel

Dear Afraid in Anne Arundel,

It is not uncommon to feel as fearful as you do about the possibility of being HIV positive. HIV and AIDS is a serious reality that affects people of all backgrounds and experiences. While it sounds as though you may not be at a high risk for infection, it is actually a good idea to get tested if you've had more than one sexual partner, especially if you've had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) without a condom.

Another reason to get tested is that if you are infected, early treatment can slow down the onset of symptoms. If you are negative, you get to have some relief from your anxiety, and the opportunity to commit to yourself to use a condom if you choose to have sex in the future. There is no reason for you to have to go to a clinic where you are uncomfortable. The University Health Center provides testing for $10 and they provide pretest counseling with an HIV counselor. It usually takes about two weeks to receive the results from the lab and your results remain in a separate confidential file. Also, the National AIDS Hotline provides 24 hour service to answer any questions you have about AIDS, including the location of test centers. The Hotline numbers are: 1-800-342-AIDS (in English); 1-900-344-SIDA (in Spanish); 1-800-AIDS-TTY (for deaf access).

If you find that you want to talk with a counselor about your fears, you can always come to the Counseling Center (301-314-7651). Good luck and take care of yourself.

Dr. WEBster