Question
How does haematospermia (blood in the semen) affect risk of transmission?
21 February 2012. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Living with HIV long-term.
I am a hiv-positive man with an undetectable viral load but suffer from haematospermia (blood in the semen). Will this make it more likely to transmit hiv if I were to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse or will the risk remain the same?
Answer
Having haematospermia (blood in the semen) is likely to carry at least the same level of risk, and possible higher if you have sex without a condom.
This higher risk could come because blood is more infectious than genital fluids.
Being on treatment can dramatically reduce the risk of transmission especially when viral load is undetectable. However, continuing to use condoms is likely to be more important if you have visible blood in your semen.
Although this can be harmless and temporary in many people, please tell your doctor so it can be checked.