"In terms of disclosure, I've kept it to a minimum, on a purely 'need to know' basis."


In terms of disclosure, I've kept it to a minimum, on a purely 'need to know' basis—either because they need to know (in the case of my boyfriend) or because I feel I need them to know (in the case of a handful of my closest friends), so that I always have someone to share any anxieties with before blood tests or doctor visits and indeed good news when I get my results back.

If or when I do have to think about starting medication, I know I'll have a really strong but compact support network of these friends who'll have gone through the process with me from the start. Some people choose—or feel that they can't—tell anyone about their being HIV positive; others tell absolutely everyone, as casually as if they're sharing star signs. My advice would be to think really carefully about what it is that YOU need and work from there.