Telling ex-partners

Telling your past sexual contacts – or people you have previously shared injecting equipment with – that you have HIV is likely also to be something you wish to think about. Different people with HIV make different decisions about this and there are likely to be a lot of factors to think about. These issues can include what your relationship was like with them and whether the kind of sex you had involved a risk of HIV transmission.

If you are still in contact with an ex-partner, you may feel comfortable meeting or calling them to talk about your diagnosis. It can help to have details of a local clinic to give them, so they can find out about having an HIV test, or the number of THT Direct (0808 802 1221) so they can talk to someone for information and support.

There may be other ways to contact your ex-partners. Staff at your HIV clinic can contact your ex-partners and sexual contacts without giving any of your details if you'd like them to, or can help you to contact them yourself.