Our Sexuality! Magazine Sizzling Summer Issue 2018 | Page 22

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if that five or 10 minutes of pleasure is worth your life? HIV is real! Although a person can live with HIV for several years, the quality of life can be greatly reduced. And while the individual is infected, the family, and community is affected. Do not allow love or your hormones to get the best of you. Take time to protect yourself. You are responsible for your sexual health. It is important to get tested, know your status, change behaviors, and learn skills. This will help to reduce your risk for becoming infected with HIV. Finally I leave you with this, every time you have unprotected sex with someone whose HIV or STI status you do not know you are saying to them that I love you enough to let you kill me! Ask yourself is that the message you want to send.