Q and A

Question

I’m undetectable and worried about transmission to my partner..

15 September 2016. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV transmission, Sero different couples, Sexual health.

I’m a positive gay male dating for 5 and 1/2 yrs undetectable for 5 yrs on meds since diagnosis. My viral load less than 48 copies. My partner gave me oral sex while showering and I’m worried. I read about the partner study. What’s the chances of him getting it. I’m always paranoid about him getting it from me.

Answer

Answer: Muirgen Stack

Hi there,

Thanks for your question.

It’s normal to worried about passing on HIV to your partner. However, ART is very effective at reducing the risk of transmission.

If your viral load in undetectable (below 50 copies), the risk is very low and may even be zero.

This is based on results from the PARTNER study. In this study there were no HIV transmissions after more than 58,000 times when couples had sex without condoms. See our Q and A and on the PARTNER study for more.

This does not mean that it is impossible to transmit HIV with an undetectable viral load but it is very unlikely and the results are strong enough to not have to use condoms for preventing transmission.

2 comments

  1. Simon Collins •

    Hi, if your viral load is undetectable, your boyfriend will not become positive.

    See this link for information about the PARTNER study.
    https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

    It reports zero transmissions after 800 couples had sex more than 58,000 times without condoms.

  2. anonymous •

    Hi I have been hiv positive since 2012 and am on ARV and I gave birth to the health child,now I have a new partner we were using a condom until one day he decided not to ma worries is that he’s negative and as am a woman I can pass hiv positive to him my viral load is indictable and I take my medication correctly