It may sound strange, but my first HIV test was a holiday for me. I was 20, newly in love and my new boyfriend wanted to make things clear, just like me. So we decided to go to a test centre in Vienna together. The idea behind it: Sex without a condom in a partnership. That's something to look forward to, isn't it?
I wasn't afraid because I had always practised safe sex beforehand. However, I hadn't realised during my research that almost every dermatologist offers an HIV test. When I searched for "HIV test in Vienna" on Google, an address came up that was intended for a completely different target group than us: the test centre was full of prostitutes who wanted to be tested anonymously for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The staff gave us a bit of a telling off. But we were allowed to take the test anyway.
That was four years ago and regular tests have long been routine for us. We trust each other, but we want to be sure. Because my boyfriend and I have an open relationship. Sex with others is allowed as long as we use condoms. That's a good solution because my boyfriend is studying in Holland and we see each other far too rarely.
Do you want to get checked too? Then take part in our test summer 2017!
Information about the HIV test and test centres in your area can be found at iwwit.de/counselling
