Worried about something to do with HIV, AIDS or sexual health? Need advice and information? Don't panic!
At AVERT.org we don't run a helpline ourselves, but our website contains loads of information on HIV, AIDS and many sexual health issues. And if you can't find what you're looking for on the site, this page will refer you to someone who can help you. Listed here are sites with more info, and organisations who run helplines and who can provide confidential advice over the phone.
If you would like to help people with AIDS and HIV yourself, or are thinking about a career in the field, please visit our HIV Work and Careers page for more information.
What's the problem?
"I've had unsafe sex. How do I know if I've been infected with HIV?"
"How can I tell if (s)he's got HIV?"
"I've got a general question about HIV or AIDS."
Okay . . . first, have you read our FAQ page about HIV transmission?
Still worried? One of the links below may be able to help you. These pages offer helplines in different regions and can offer you confidential help and advice over the telephone.
| UK HIV and AIDS helplines | www.avert.org/ukhelplines.htm |
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| USA and Canada AIDS/STD helplines | www.thebody.com/hotlines.html |
Or, if you have a specific HIV or AIDS enquiry which isn't answered on AVERT.org then e-mail us and we'll try to get back to you with an answer. You can find our e-mail address on our contact us page.
"Have I been infected with HIV?"
This is one of the questions we are most commonly asked. If something's happened, and you want to know if you're at risk, check out our page about how you can/can't become infected with HIV.
"I think I may need to be tested for HIV"
Firstly – try not to worry. If you've only recently had a risky sexual (or injecting) encounter, then you might have to wait before you can have a test anyway. Remember – the vast majority of HIV tests are negative, but if you want to be sure, a test is the best way to put you mind at rest.
It is generally best to wait at least 6 weeks before taking an HIV test, although waiting 3 months will give you a more reliable result.
AVERT.org has a FAQ section on HIV testing which may be able to answer your questions for you. If you can't find the answer you're looking for there, then try these sites which also have information about HIV testing :
| Guide to HIV testing | www.aidsmeds.com/lessons/HIVtests.htm |
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| HIV testing FAQs | www.hivtest.org/ |
Or if you need to know where you can find a place in your area where you can be tested :
Anywhere else in the world – contact your health-care provider, who will be able to tell you the nearest place where you can be tested. The test is usually free and confidential – if you're not sure about this, just ask. Most countries also have a telephone helpline on which you can speak confidentially to people who will understand your feelings, and who will be able to give you the information you need confidentially.
And remember: if you have to wait to have a HIV test - or if you have to wait to get the results - then do not have any unprotected sex during this time!
"I may have come into contact with HIV at work"
"I've been stuck by a needle"
"I'm a health-care worker and I'm HIV+"
AVERT.org has information for health-care workers, and further information about HIV at work and accidental exposure to HIV can be found here :
| Infected health-care workers (UK) | www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/... |
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| Post-exposure treatment (USA) | www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/ |
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| Post-exposure treatment (UK) | www.aidsmap.com/en/docs/... |
"I've got a nasty rash / some weird discharge. How do I know if it's a sexually transmitted infection?"
There's a big section on our site which explains all about the different STDs (also called STIs).
You can also find more STI information online at :
| Teen Health advice (Canada) | www.chebucto.ns.ca/Health/TeenHealth/... |
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| Epigee guide | www.epigee.org/guide/stds.html |
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| STI information en Español | www.cdc.gov/std/spanish/ |
If you don't find what you need there, and you think you need to talk to someone, try one of the websites below, who list helplines that give personal advice.
| 'Condom Essential Wear' info & helpline (UK) | www.condomessentialwear.co.uk |
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| USA and Canada AIDS/STD helplines | www.thebody.com/hotlines.html |
"I have a STD – I need to see a doctor!"
"I have a STD – and I'm under the age of consent!"
Have you read the AVERT.org section on STDs and the teen STD page? Great! The next step is to locate a clinic where you can get tested and treated:
| FPA - Find a clinic (UK) | www.fpa.org.uk/finder/ |
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| Planned Parenthood info and clinics (USA) | www.plannedparenthood.org/sti/ |
If you want to speak to someone directly, the hotlines below should also be able to tell you about sexual health services in your area and where your nearest clinic is :
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Sexual Health Information Line (UK - 24 hours) |
0800 567 123 |
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| USA and Canada AIDS/STD helplines | www.thebody.com/hotlines.html |
If you're not in the UK, USA or Canada, you should be able to find your nearest sexual health clinic by asking your doctor (some doctors will also perform sexual health screening themselves) or by looking up 'sexual health' in your telephone directory or local Yellow Pages.
"I need to talk to someone about sexual assault or rape."
If you need help, advice or information about sexual assault or rape, on yourself or someone else, then please don't hesitate to talk to someone. While there are lots of good resources on the internet, if you have experienced a sexual assault, whether it was recently or in the past, you need to talk to a real person.
You can call the helplines below confidentially and you won't have to give your name. The calls are free, and they won't show up on your phone bill.
UK : If you are a woman who has been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact the Rape Crisis Federation on 0115 900 3560 (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am-4.30pm). They can put you in touch with your nearest Rape Crisis Centre for help. Or you can go to the Rape Crisis website for information.
Victim Supportline provides help and information for anyone in the UK who has been affected by a crime, including violence or sexual assault. Call them on 0845 30 30 900 (Mondays to Fridays 9am-9pm or Saturdays and Sundays 9am-7pm).
Survivor runs a UK-based website with support and information for men who have experienced any sort of sexual violence. It also has a UK helpline on 020 7613 0808 (Monday and Tuesday evenings 7pm-10pm).
In the USA, you can call the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) for free, confidential counselling and support 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the country on 1-800-656-HOPE, or you can contact No Means No on 1-877-666-3267.
Again, outside of the UK and USA, you should check your telephone directory or search Google for rape crisis support centres or helplines.
"I think I'm pregnant!"
AVERT.org has a section about pregnancy, and also information for HIV+ women who are pregnant already, or who want to become pregnant.
Other sites which have information on pregnancy and preventing pregnancy include :
If you're in the USA and you need to speak to someone about abortion, try Prochoice - 1(800) 772-9100 or visit www.prochoice.org.
In the UK, both the British Pregnancy Advisory Service on 08457 304030 and the FPA on 020 7837 4044 can give you more advice about abortion or emergency contraception.
"I've got a general question about sex"
"I want to ask about something that's not covered here."
"I'm worried my body isn't normal."
AVERT.org is really a HIV and AIDS site, so unfortunately we can't answer general questions about sex, growing up or any other non-AIDS related topic. We do always try to help though, so we've put together lots of information in our teens and sex sections which covers most common questions.
Not found the answer you were looking for? Why not explore the many alternative websites we have listed on our links page? Or, if you'd like to ask a direct question, try one of the following sites:
"I think I might be gay"
"I'm a lesbian"
"Who can I talk to about bisexual issues?"
AVERT.org has a lots of information for gay, lesbian and bisexual people, covering a wide range of issues, from HIV and AIDS to relationships, coming out to homophobia. We also have a series of pages especially for young gay men and lesbians in our teens' section, and you can read stories from young LGBT people in our stories section.
If you're gay, a lesbian, bisexual or just someone who's unsure of your sexuality, and you want to talk to someone, then AVERT.org has a gay, bi & lesbian resources page where you can find a switchboard, helpline or hotline in the USA or the UK. There's also information about social groups, youth groups, magazines and websites.
"I feel like killing myself"
"I've been cutting myself"
"I'm depressed all the time"
If you're experiencing these feelings it's important that you speak to someone straight away.
In the USA, you can call someone toll-free and confidentially. You can talk to the National Hopeline Network toll-free on 1-800-784-2433. Or you can speak to youth crisis on 1-800-999-9999 or visit www.youthcrisisnetwork.org.
In the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 909090.
Anywhere else in the world – please do talk to someone. Your doctor or teacher should be able to tell you where you can go for advice, and most countries have a telephone helpline on which you can speak confidentially to people who will understand your feelings.
There are lots of good websites out there with support for people who are depressed or hurting themselves. Many of them include personal stories of other people who are experiencing depression. This can be a good form of support, but it isn't as good as talking to someone. Remember, if you feel this way, you should speak to someone about it as soon as you can.