Consider this simple blood test as part of your routine check-up.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s remains a vivid and painful memory for many people. The disease claimed millions of lives, as researchers sought to understand the epidemic and how to treat it.

Thankfully, the introduction of antiretroviral therapy turned the tide in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the number of lives claimed by the disease has fallen sharply over the years. Still, the disease remains highly stigmatized, and screening and education remains critically important.

Dr. Thomas Klarquist, an internal medicine physician and HIV specialist, shares three things you may not know about HIV:

1. Screening is more important than ever. Dr. Klarquist encourages regular opt-out testing for all sexually active adults. The test is a simple blood draw that tests for the disease, and patients can opt-out, if they want. Patients typically don’t have to wait long to hear the test results.
2. Women age 50 and older are considered one of the highest risk groups to contract HIV. Women in this age group are at highest risk because, after going through menopause, they are much more likely to have unprotected sex. Women over 50 are at even higher risk because the vaginal lining is especially thin, making this patient population even more vulnerable to infection.
3. Stigma and embarrassment are still barriers. Many people don’t feel comfortable talking to their physician about sexual activity, making HIV testing even more unlikely. It’s important to find a physician with whom you feel comfortable and safe asking about HIV and other STD testing.

Dr. Klarquist practices HIV medicine at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, which was recently recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the 11th year in a row. Advocate Illinois Masonic also housed Unit 371 — Chicago’s first multidisciplinary care unit dedicated to housing, treating and supporting patients with AIDS and HIV. The unit was closed and repurposed in 1999.

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About Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is a 397-bed non-profit teaching hospital located in the Lake View neighborhood on Chicago's North Side. The medical center has a Level I Trauma Center and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the highest designations awarded by the state of Illinois, and offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, including cardiovascular, oncology, digestive health and neurosciences services. A recipient of numerous awards for quality and clinical excellence, Advocate Illinois Masonic has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The medical center has also been named a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign's Healthcare Equality Index. Advocate Illinois Masonic is part of Advocate Health Care, the largest fully integrated health system in Illinois. For more information, visit www.advocatehealth.com/immc.