HIV

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Protect yourself.

Learn about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and how it works in this short video. 

(Updated 7/11/2018)

Learn More About Prophylaxis for HIV? 

Check out the video below.

(updated 7/11/2018)  

What is Post Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV?

Check out the information below.

(Updated 7/11/2018)

PRE HIV EngJPG
PREP HIV Spanish
get tested

The Worst HIV Status……UNKNOWN!

Not testing leaves you in the dark.
Testing puts YOU in control!

Risks for HIV

The most common ways HIV is transmitted in the United States is through anal or vaginal sex or sharing drug injection equipment with a person infected with HIV. Although the risk factors for HIV are the same for everyone, some racial/ethnic, gender, and age groups are far more affected than others. Substance use can contribute to these risks indirectly because alcohol and other drugs can lower people’s inhibitions and make them less likely to use condoms.


Reduce Your Risk

Get Tested Today for HIV, STD, and Hepatitis!

Find Free, Fast, and Confidential Testing Near You: Click here




The Right Way To Use A Male Condom

  • DO use a condom every time you have sex.
  • DO put on a condom before having sex.
  • DO read the package and check the expiration date.
  • DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
  • DO store condoms in a cool, dry place.
  • DO use latex or polyurethane condoms.
  • DO use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.
English: Click here
Spanish: Click here





Male Condom

Male condom

The Right Way To Use A Female Condom

  • DO use a female condom from start to finish, every time you have vaginal sex.*
  • DO read the condom package insert and check the expiration date.
  • DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
  • DO use lubricant to help prevent the condom from slipping and tearing.
  • DO store female condoms in a cool, dry place.

*Female condoms can also be used for anal sex.

English: Click here
Spanish: Click here


Female Condom

Female-condom

Dental Dam

Dental damjpg

How To Use A Dental Dam As A Barrier For Oral Sex

Dental dams are latex or polyurethane sheets used between the mouth and vagina or anus during oral sex.
  • DO use a new latex or polyurethane dental dam every time you have oral sex.
  • DO read the package and check the expiration date.
  • DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
  • DO put on before starting oral sex and keep it on until finished.
  • DO use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.
  • DO store dental dams in a cool, dry place.
English: Click here
Spanish: Click here



Contact Ontario County Public Health for:

  • Male condoms
  • Female condoms
  • Dental dams
  • HIV prevention information
Call Ontario County Public Health
(585) 396-4343

Call today!

cell phone

Syringe Exchange Program

Injection drug users (IDUs) can become infected with HIV and Hepatitis C through sharing contaminated syringes and other injection equipment; they can then transmit the viruses to others through high-risk sexual behavior.

Public Health Law allows individuals to legally obtain and transport syringes provided they enroll in a Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) and carry an identification card with a unique number.

Trillium Health: Health Outreach Project
416 Central Ave
Rochester, NY 14605
585-454-5556

English: Click here
Spanish: Click here

Needle exchange

Say Yes to the Test!

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day. Has your doctor talked to you about having an HIV test?

Why is HIV testing so important?
More than 1.2 million people living in the United States are infected with HIV. Twenty percent of them do not know they have it. This means 240,000 Americans are unaware that their immune systems are being attacked and that they can infect others with HIV. That is frightening!

Why don’t more people get tested for HIV?

Reason 1: People don’t understand they are at risk. They believe that HIV is limited to men who have sex with men. The truth is anyone of any age, race, sex or sexual orientation can become infected with HIV. Those at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS are people who:
  • Do not use condoms every time they have sex. HIV is more apt to be spread during anal sex than vaginal or oral sex. The risk is even higher for people with multiple sex partners.
  • Have another sexually transmitted infection (STI). Genital tissue that is inflamed due to an STI provides an easy way for HIV to enter the body.
  • Use intravenous drugs. Sharing needles, syringes, and other supplies with someone who has HIV, puts you at high risk for becoming infected.
Reason 2: People think an HIV diagnosis means they are going to die. Early in the history of the HIV epidemic, AIDS claimed a lot of young lives. Fortunately, things are different now. There are many medicines available that help HIV positive people live long, productive lives. HIV is now considered a chronic illness that can be successfully managed for many years. The sooner a person is diagnosed and starts treatment, the better!

Reason 3: People think an HIV diagnosis will change their lives.They are right. Being diagnosed with any chronic disease, including HIV, is life-changing. It affects not only you, but your family and friends. It may mean you have to stop some old habits and adopt new ones. For instance, diabetics must change their diets and inject insulin; people with sleep apnea wear oxygen masks to bed every night; and cancer patients deal with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Likewise, people diagnosed with HIV will need to learn how to deal with their infection. There will be medications, visits to specialists, and decisions about how to tell their friends, families, and sexual partners.

The good news is that there is a lot of support available for people who are HIV positive. In the Finger Lakes Region, Trillium Health helps individuals diagnosed with HIV find doctors, get to appointments, manage their medications, talk to family members, and deal with the emotional stress of finding out they have HIV.

Reason 4: People don't know where to get tested.
Your healthcare provider's office is a great place to start. In fact, your HIV status is an important piece of information for your provider to have as he cares for you.

In New York State, medical providers are required by law to offer HIV testing to all patients between the ages of thirteen and sixty-four. This makes HIV testing a routine part of care like other common screening tests (blood counts, cholesterol checks, mammograms, etc.).

If you do not have a healthcare provider, HIV tests can be done during emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and at many clinics. Click here to find a testing site near you or call the NY State HIV Hotline at 1-800-541-2437.

So, the next time your healthcare provider offers an HIV test…SAY YES TO THE TEST!

Click on the options below for more information.
National HIV Testing Day
HIV Facts and Statistics
Anonymous HIV Testing
New York State HIV Hot Line