ask shangazi caricature — Emanuele del Rosso

My fiancé wants me to get an HIV test

‘I am getting married. My fiancé has asked me to get tested for HIV. He says everyone should get it done before marriage, even virgins. I am shocked.’

What are you shocked about, my sister? That your fiancé is asking you to get tested for HIV, or that he may think you are not a virgin?

An act of entrapment

Do you feel he is trying to trap you? I can hear him thinking for you. If you say yes to the test, you have nothing to fear or lose. If you say no, he will think you must’ve had sex before marriage and got something to hide.

I don’t blame people for such poor thinking and attitude. I tell you, your Shangazi has seen all kinds this past year. But this is hardly the route one should take.

So simply put – it’s easy advice. Let’s be safe. In a sense, you may say he is trying to establish his trust over you. He isn’t asking you if your hymen is intact, is he? Let me tell you, many others ask that, too.

Progressive thinking

What’s freaking you out so much, dada yangu? Your fiancé asking you to get tested for HIV? You must be thinking that’s a very non-traditional thing to do, right? Yes, it may be. But progressive, too.

You should happy. The man you are marrying is brave and bold.

He is asking for a proof of good health and safety; not your virginity. What’s so wrong with that?

It’s a great idea to get tested, together. You should know the score on him, too.

To me, it looks like the man is confident – to ask you and to break the traditional mindset. Am I not right?

Heavy baggage

You see, HIV/AIDS testing comes with a lot of emotional baggage. Getting a test done can mean a lot of things. Let’s say you have been sexually active before marriage. There’s no harm in that, as long as one is bringing the tiny lightweight champion along – the condom.

One of the most common routes to transmit infections or diseases is through sexual contact. We all know that and hence talking about HIV is talking about your sex life. But the good news is, it’s not being forced on you or on anybody, is it?

As of now, it is just a suggestion. That is always charming, isn’t it? Your fiancé is not holding a gun to your head.

Voluntary vs. Mandatory

We all have the right to detest anything that is forced upon us, don’t we? If I ask you to drink Stoney when you like Coke, you won’t like my attitude, will you? If I make you eat vegetarian food when you wake up to bacon beckoning, you will be unhappy, isn’t it?

So as long as your fiancé’s idea is just a voluntary suggestion – maybe you will consider it. If it comes back with a double delight – test for you and me, then that’s even better.

Like I said earlier, HIV testing is not a character validation certificate but a suggestion for safety and good health.

Testing for HIV/AIDS is a good idea as long as it’s voluntary and not mandatory. It’s worth a thought and a shot, isn’t it?

Have you ever been tested for HIV? Share your thoughts in comments or write to us on Facebook. If you have a question or a doubt, please visit our discussion forum.