Sex Clinic host busts myth about HIV as shocking number think they’re not at risk

Sarah Mulindwa, NHS nurse, sexual health expert and presenter of Channel 4’s The Sex Clinic, wants to bust some common myths as a survey for Tackle HIV, a campaign led by former rugby international Gareth Thomas, unearthed the extent misconceptions about the condition are believed

More than 40 years have passed since the first HIV cases were reported. Since then, there have been many advances in prevention, care and treatment, but there’s still a long way to go when it comes to beating the confusion and stigma that surrounds the virus.

This week is HIV Testing Week and a survey carried out by Tackle HIV, a campaign led by former rugby international Gareth Thomas, has discovered that around one in five of us (17 per cent) still believe a ­diagnosis is a death sentence, almost half (44 per cent) wouldn’t tell loved ones if they tested positive, while 51 per cent said they wouldn’t even consider taking a test in the first place.

Sarah Mulindwa, NHS nurse, sexual health expert and presenter of Channel 4’s The Sex Clinic, wants to bust some common myths.

Myth 1: I don’t need to get tested. I’m not at risk of HIV

“This is something I hear surprisingly often, but the truth is, HIV doesn’t discriminate – anyone can contract the virus. It’s true that some groups are more at risk than others, but in England, more heterosexual and bisexual people are now diagnosed with HIV each year than gay men. That means the only way to know your HIV status for sure is to get tested.

“The good news is that it is getting easier to test for HIV. You can go to a clinic or simply order a free kit at freetesting.hiv and take the test in the comfort of your own home. It’s so easy – there’s no excuse not to know your status.

“HIV attacks the immune system and stays in the body for life, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy. Without ­medication, people with HIV can develop AIDS, when the immune system can no longer fight infections, which is