Yes, you are correct! Getting an HIV test can be difficult, if not downright scary—and having a conversation with your partner(s) about HIV results can bring up a lot of other issues. Thanks to a new service developed by researchers from Emory University, Howard Brown Health Center, and two clinics in Atlanta, there is an option where some of those challenges are lessened.

I spoke with Sam Hoehnle, project coordinator of "Testing Together" at Howard Brown. Mr. Hoehnle said that "Testing Together" provides an opportunity for gay and bisexual men in relationships to get tested and receive their results together (at the same time, in the same room), with a trained counselor present to discuss the results. Testing with your partner and receiving your results together is a great opportunity to start (or continue) a healthy conversation about HIV in your relationship, and allows you to talk openly about building a plan to address HIV (and other STI) risks. The service is designed to focus on the future, not on what each person has done in the past.

Only four clinics in the U.S. are offering this service for male couples so that the researchers can evaluate how well it works. The two locations in Chicago are Howard Brown Health Center and the Broadway Youth Center (for people 24 years of age and under). Howard Brown offers the service during regular Walk-in Clinic hours and the Broadway Youth Center on Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8pm.

For more information about Testing Together you can go to www.testingtogether.org, call 773-388-8885, or check the program out on Facebook.

Be well,

Peter Pointers

Peter Pointers is an online, gay health educator and is assisted by a group of qualified health specialists who work as a team to answer your health questions. Check out Peter's Question/Answer forum at www.lifelube.org/experts.php for more pointers and to ask your own questions.