Partner Counseling and Referral
Services
1 800-637-5466
1 888-442-7448
How Can I Let My Partner Know?
We can help you talk about your HIV status with your partner (s).
It’s a free, voluntary, and confidential service.
Why is it Important for My Partner to Know?
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Some people might have been exposed through unprotected sex or sharing needs and could be infected Pregnant woman may pass HIV on to unborn babies |
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I was afraid to talk to my partner, until I spoke with my counselor. Now my partner knows I have HIV. |
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-Ann |
HIV Testing is the only way to know. Talking to your partner
is important because they can:
- Know if they have HIV;
- Learn how to protect themselves and others from HIV infection;
- Make choices about their health care and treatment.
Information, communication, trusting relationships are ways to reduce HIV infection. Is one of the ways to reduce HIV infection and help others stay healthy. Sharing information with your partner might help reduce HIV.
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Who Can Help Me?
Talking with your partner (s) about HIV can be a difficult choice to
make. We can help. Partner Counseling and Referral Services is for
anyone who is HIV positive and has partners who may have been exposed to
the Virus.
Our HIV Counselors and HIV Case Managers are trained counselors who can
help you think about how to tell your partner about their possible
exposure to HIV. If you have multiple partners, we can help with that as
well.
HIV Case Managers and HIV Counselors Can:
- Listen to your concerns about disclosure and discuss the benefits to you and your partners;
- Be there to answer questions and offer options;
- Offer medical referrals, housing information, and drug treatment referrals;
- Most important, respect and protect your privacy
How Can My Partner Be Told?
Our HIV Counselors and Case Managers will work with you so that your
partner can be told in a sensitive and private way. There are a number
of ways for this to happen.
- You can do it. We can help prepare you to tell your partner of their possible exposure. The counselor or case manager will also offer support and information, including referrals for testing and other services that your partner may need.
- We can do it with you. You can choose to talk with your partner along with a counselor who will provide support and answer any questions and concerns your partner may have.
- We can do it for you. A counselor from the Mass Department of Public Health or our HIV Counselor or Case Managers can take information from you about finding your partner. Once your partner is reached, they will be told about their exposure, without saying anything about you, and refer them to testing and other services they may need.
- You can combine these options. A counselor will work with you to tell as many different partners as you want in any combination of these ways.
We will help you inform your sexual and or sharing needle partners about the possible exposure to HIV.
Anonymously or Confidentially!!!
It is your choice.
Protect your partner
Talk with one of our HIV Counselors or Case Managers for information
and ways to reduce risk to you and your partners.
Here are some options that can help reduce the risk for HIV, sexually
transmitted infections (STI’s) and
hepatitis transmission. Some may be more effective than others, but even
one will help reduce the risk.
Sexual and Injection Drug Use
Risk Reduction Options:
- Receiving medical care
- Getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B
- Getting tested and treated for STI’s
- Talking to your partner about HIV and STI’s
- Using a female or male condom while having anal or vaginal sex
- Not sharing your needles or works (cotton, cooker, rinse water), cleaning with bleach or liquids
- Using a needle exchange program
If you or any of your sex or needle-sharing partners
are pregnant,
some treatments may prevent transmission to an unborn child.
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Letting your sexual or needle sharing partner know about your HIV
status encourages them to test for HIV. |