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
i just want to find out if you have sex with hiv + girl who is using medication and the condom burst and you take it out before the sperm take place are you infected or not ?
and what is the window period so that i can go and check my status.
please help
Hi Lindokuhle, this depends on the persons viral load. So long at the person’s treatment is working, they have no resistance. This means if you do become positive, the meds will still work for you. If viral load is undetectable though, you will not catch HIV.
Is it true that if you sleep with someone who is hiv+ and she is taking treatment. wil their treatment stop working on me if maybe i found out that i am affected?
Hi Lee,
If your partner is on medication and they have an undetectable viral load then the risks are close to zero. Please see the PARTNER study:
http://i-base.info/htb/30108
Hi.can u get HIV if the person is taking their medication…?
Hi Abba – please see the link to question 9 at this page:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
You can then decide for yourself based on good and recent evidence.
If a HIV-ve person have sex with a HIV+ve Person who is taking her medication will he be infected?
It sounds like your partner might need support so you can talk about this aspect of your life. The risk of transmission from one time without a condom is very low but depends on whether you partner is on treatment with undetectable viral load. If she is on treatment then the risk to you would be negigible based on the results of the PARTNER study.
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study
The risk is so low that Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) would not be recommended in the UK.
Please talk to your partner about how she feels and here experiences until now. This might make you connection much stronger.
i had unprotected sex with my lover and she just opened up to me that she is hiv positive what should i do
Hi Simingaye
HIV is a difficult virus to catch, so one exposure makes it mich re likely that you are stil HIV negative.
Answers to your questions are already online at the FAQ page.
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
or in this guide:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
If you have a similar situation then it is better to wipe you penis than wash it. But better to just use condoms.
Also if an HIV positive person is on treatment with an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is very low, and perhaps gets close to zero. See:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study