Question
If I have unprotected sex with other HIV positive people will I get resistance?
15 January 2017. Related: All topics, HIV reinfection (superinfection), HIV transmission, Resistance.
Hi,
I’m a HIV positive gay male aged 27, infected and diagnosed three years ago. I am currently healthy with a CD4 count of 560 and a viral load of 35,000 and not yet on any medication.
I’ve been scared to sleep with other positive men through fear of catching treatment resistant strains or worse. I am a passive partner and I’m afraid my question does relate to unprotected sex. I am aware of the risks associated therein, afterall it got me in this situation!
I would like to know if I were to sleep with a HIV positive guy, is it better for me if he is on meds and undetectable or would that put me more at risk of developing resistance?
Now I can ‘sero-sort’ I’d like to know what’s likely to be the safest way to prevent my situation getting any worse, be it developing drug resistance, superinfection or other hard to treat infections?
I am also immunised against hepatitis B. Am I truly safe against this if I were to unknowingly come into contact with it?
Many thanks
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Having an undetectable viral load on treatment will be better both for you and your partner.
This is because the meds also stop HIV from being transmitted. Even if your partner has drug resistance, and undetectable viral load means HIV won’t be transmitted.
Even though your CD4 count is still strong above 500, treatment guidelines still recommend treatment (ART) for your own health too.
This article explains why U=U (undetectable viral load = untransmittable HIV).
https://i-base.info/htb/32308
The HBV vaccine is also very effective. Your doctor will check you have a good immune response after your vaccination. This protectional usually lasts for at least five years but your doctor can also check this in can you need a booster in the future.
For any further information or if you need any support then please do not hesitate to contact us on the treatment information helpline (Mon-Wed 12-4pm)
The information in this answer was updated in January 2017 from a post in May 2010. Please see: Question 9 at this link for more information.
Hi there
I am 27 years old lady, I have been having unprotected sex with my new boyfriend for 2 months because he had showed me his results that he was negative for December 2014. Now we went for a test together twice and he was positive on both. What are the chances of me not getting infected, What should I do please help me.
Hi Thandi,
It sound like you are doing great on treatment.The chances of you either getting reinfected or you infecting your boyfriend are extremely low.
You can only get re-infected if you are sleeping with someone who has HIV. THe fact you are on treatment also makes this extremely unlikely.
His risk of getting infected is also very low. This is because you are on treatment and your viral load is so low.
Sex with condoms does not carry any risk for transmission.
I am 40 years old and I found that i am HIV positive in 2009. I started with an CD4 count of and now i am healthy, my CD4 count is 1300 and my viral load is nil. My problem is that i am scared to tell my boyfriend about it. We don’t use condoms, did I reinfected myself and will my boyfriend will get infected ?
Your girlfriend’s viral laod test results are more important than the CD4 count when thinking about risk. If she is on treatment, the risk is likely to be much lower. If viral load is undetectable, the risk is really very low, perhaps becoming less than 1 in 40,000 each time. If she is not yet on treatment then the risk will be much higher and using a condom will protect your health.
Good afternoon. I am HIV negative and circumcised. My girlfriend is HIV positive and her cd4 count is over 500. What are the chances of me being infected if we have unprotected sex?
Hi Tumi,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but I am glad you have support from you boyfriend.
You should be able to start treatment right away to prevent transmission to your baby. Usually this is available from 14 weeks of pregnancy when a woman has a CD4 count over 350. You can read more about this in our pregnancy guide.
It is important that your boyfriend gets tested. If he is HIV positive he may need to access treatment and if he doesn’t know his status he is at greater risk of getting ill. If he is HIV negative it is important that you take precautions to prevent him from being infected. It’s important that you use condoms whenever you have sex until he knows his status.
I am 27 years old, 18weeks pregnant and was diagnosed HIV positive last month ago. I have a supportive man aware of my status but doesn’t want to verify his. My worry is that we still having unprotected sex and our sex life has just got better. I am not taking any treatment but I applied for chronic medication as Iam worried I might infect my unborn child. My CD4 count is 650 and viral loud of 12 000.how soon can I start taking medication that will stop trasmition from mother to baby. Do we intruduce a condom in our relation untill the child is born?
Hi Khanyisile, I’m very sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. You should have a confirmation test done at your clinic if you haven’t already done this.This second test is with a more accurate type of test and makes sure there wasn’t any mistake with the first one. It’s unusual for the second test to be negative though, and it is likely that you will be HIV positive. Do you have any support to help you deal with this?
hi I got last month that Im HIV positive. Its unbelievable.can I chack again my status or I have to chack my cd4 count but my thought told my If I double chack my status it will be negative.
Hi Shades,
Being HIV+ shouldn’t stop you conceiving, and after being on treatment for 6 months or so your viral load should be undetectable, which will make it less likely you would transmit HIV to your partner. Please see our FAQs about serodifferent couples for more info.