Most Asked
How is hepatitis C spread?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact with someone who has the virus. Common routes of transmission include:
- Sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment
- Accidental needlesticks or blood exposure in a healthcare setting
- Tattoos or piercings done with unsterilized equipment
- Sharing personal items that may carry tiny amounts of blood (like razors or toothbrushes)
- From a mother to a baby during delivery (less common)
- Sexual contact is possible but generally less common than blood exposure
Hepatitis C does not spread through casual contact like hugging, sharing food or drinks, or using the same bathroom. If you think you may have been exposed, hepatitis C testing in Tennessee can help you get answers early and connect you to treatment if needed.
Will PrEP still protect me from HIV if I don’t take it every day?
PrEP works best when taken exactly as prescribed. Missing doses can reduce how well it prevents HIV, especially if missed often. Some protection may remain after occasional missed doses, but it’s not the same as consistent use.
If you’ve missed pills, don’t guess. A PrEP provider can tell you whether you’re still covered, when protection is strongest, and how to get back on track. If you want reliable, long-term prevention, staying consistent with PrEP in Tennessee is the safest approach. PrEP helps prevent HIV, but it does not prevent other STIs, so routine testing and safer-sex strategies still matter.
How can sexually transmitted infections be prevented?
No single method is perfect, but combining strategies can dramatically reduce risk. Practical ways to prevent STIs include:
- Abstinence or choosing lower-risk activities
- Using condoms consistently and correctly
- Routine STI screening and honest conversations with partners
- Vaccines when available (such as HPV and hepatitis B)
- Reducing the number of sexual partners
- PrEP for HIV prevention when appropriate
- PEP (including nPEP) after a recent high-risk HIV exposure, started as soon as possible
- Getting prompt treatment if you test positive to reduce complications and prevent spread
If you’re due for screening, STD testing in Tennessee is a straightforward way to protect your health and your partners.
HIV
Is HIV treatable?
Yes. HIV is treatable with antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART lowers the amount of virus in the body (viral load), protects the immune system, and helps many people reach an undetectable viral load. With consistent treatment and routine medical follow-up, most people can live long, healthy lives.
When someone maintains an undetectable viral load, they do not transmit HIV through sex (U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable). HIV care in Tennessee typically includes ongoing lab monitoring, support services, and treatment adjustments when needed.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is spread through certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways HIV is transmitted include:
- Unprotected vaginal or anal sex with a person who has HIV
- Sharing needles, syringes, or injection equipment
- From mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding (risk is greatly reduced with treatment)
- Rarely, through blood products or organ transplants (screening makes this extremely uncommon in the U.S.)
HIV is not spread through casual contact like hugging, shaking hands, sharing utensils, or using the same restroom. If you’ve had a possible exposure, HIV testing in Tennessee can help you take the next step quickly.
I am pregnant and HIV positive. Will my child be born with HIV?
With early prenatal care and effective treatment, the risk of passing HIV to a baby can be reduced to very low levels. ART during pregnancy and after delivery helps lower the mother’s viral load, which is key to preventing transmission. Your care team may include an OB-GYN and an HIV specialist, and your baby will be tested after birth and monitored to confirm their HIV status.
Feeding recommendations can vary based on your situation and current guidance, so it’s important to discuss options with your medical team. The most important step is staying in care and keeping your viral load controlled throughout pregnancy and postpartum.