"Please do it quickly," Philipp asks his GP when he picks up the result of his very first HIV test. No elaborate explanations! Just know: "Do I have HIV"? Test result: negative. "I felt relieved after that," says Philipp. That was four years ago, just before his 18th birthday. He had previously had sex with an acquaintance "who was a bit more promiscuous", as Philipp puts it: "I was nervous and wanted to have an HIV test." He went to his family doctor, of course, even though it made him a little uncomfortable: "I've known my doctor since I was a child - and then suddenly a topic like this comes up."
But Philipp's doctor is medically and personally excellent. First of all, he reassured his young patient. "He gave me reassurance," reports the 22-year-old. "My doctor knows me well and knows that I'm rather jittery." After two weeks, Philipp was able to collect the redemptive result and was allowed to simply go into the treatment room without an appointment. "My doctor told me to take care of myself." One more handshake and Philipp had completed his first HIV test with a good feeling.
Since then, the single man has had more than a dozen HIV tests. He goes for a health check every two to three months, either at his GP or at "Hein & Fiete" in Hamburg. He also has himself tested for other sexually transmitted diseases. "These are often easier to catch than HIV," says Philipp. Nevertheless, he always has an HIV test done - "just to be on the safe side".
The check has long been routine, but the restaurateur is still excited when he collects the results after a week. "I always have 10,000 thoughts in my head," says Philipp: "Sometimes I think too much. Then I always think to myself: you can treat HIV well. I calm myself down with that."
You can find more information about the HIV test and a map of Germany with test centres at iwwit.de/counselling
