Telling others

Telling others that you have HIV is hard. A lot of people feel this is the hardest part of having HIV.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to tell everyone about your HIV. Your health information is confidential and private.

It is your choice if you want to tell someone or not. Sometimes people don’t understand HIV and because HIV can be passed on to others, there may be stigma, so telling others can be hard.

If you are not sure who and when to tell about your HIV, ask your HIV team or Positive Women Inc. for help.

When and who do you tell

Your doctor

It is important to tell your doctor you are taking HIV medicines because they could react with other medicines that you might need to take. If you are uncomfortable telling your doctor about your HIV, you can ask your HIV team at the hospital to talk to them.

Your dentist

You don’t have to, but it is a good idea to tell your dentist. If you have any problems with this contact your HIV team.

Other services

You don’t have to tell other services like universities, schools, sports clubs, hairdressers or beauticians. The choice is yours.

Your family and friends

There are no rules about who in your life you tell that you are living with HIV. You have no way of telling how people will react. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Will the person support me?

• Will the person keep my HIV information to themselves?

• Will it help me if the person knows?

If you cannot answer YES to ALL of these questions, it is best not to tell that person. There is no law to stop them from discussing your HIV with others (the law only applies to health professionals). Talk to a counsellor or your HIV team to help you make the best decision.

Take a look at our Telling Others Factsheet (printable PDF)