Question
Can I have sex with someone who is positive and not catch HIV?
16 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.
Answer
Yes, there are lots of ways to make sure HIV is not transmitted during sex.
- One of the easiest and most effective ways is just for the HIV positive partner to be on treatment. An undetectable viral load makes HIV untransmittable. (See: The evidence for U=U).
- Another relatively recent option is for the negative partner to use PrEP. This is an oral drug that when taken as prescribed is highly effective. (See: UK guide to PrEP).
- You can use condoms which are an effective barrier against HIV (and other STIs). Condoms need to be used carefully, preferably with plenty of lube. (See: How to use a condom (male and female).
HIV is a much less infectious virus than many other sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).
Even without a condom, the risk from a single exposure is less than, for example, 1 in 300. The actual risk becoming infected varies depending on many factors. These include the type of exposure, whether the other person is HIV positive, how high or low their viral load is, the duration and roughness of the sex etc.
If the partner is HIV positive, then viral load is the most important factor. The PARTNER study reported zero HIV transmissions after 900 couples had sex more than 58,000 times WITHOUT condoms. In this study undetectable viral load was defined as being less than 200 copies/mL.
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study
Risk factors for penetrative sex without a condom with someone who has a very high viral load could be as high as 1 in 10 (10% risk). But the risk is effectively zero with someone who is taking treatment and who has an undetectable viral load.
This question was updated in January 2018 and November 2016 from an original answer posted in June 2007. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about HIV transmission and risk. (See: Question 1 at this link).
I’ve had sex with a condom, am I at risk of HIV?
Hi Frank.
Please see the following link:
http://i-base.info/qa/284
and question 1 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
9 days after having unprotected sex with a girl I had a swollen lymph nodes with serious jaw pain and lower back pain.
Please does this show early signs of HIV infection?
Hi Dave,
Your going to have to wait until you’ve finished your course of meds and then test. I’m sorry, but this is what you’ll need to do.
Did your friend tell you that her viral load was 850? This is low, but there is still a risk of transmission.
Hi Dave. How is your partner now? Does she have support and access to treatment? No one has the right to make another person take an HIV test. If you forced this issue you have an ethical responsibility to help afterwards and yet you only seem to be thinking about yourself. HIV is not easy to catch and the risk is low from one exposure, especially for the insertive partner. Please see question 1 at this link answer your other questions.
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi Dear,
My name is dave, I’m 29 years. I believe i can get help from discussing my problem as I have no one to talk to. On the 12th of December 2016 I met this lady and asked her out for dinner which later turned out to a more intimate one, i got drunk and drove to my house where we started playing and touching each other.. after the first sex with condom I fell asleep 30minutes later she woke me up and demanded more sex, so I got up to go buy condoms she refused and get upset so I had to stay back to accommodate her, some minutes later she drew closer to me and we started playing” which turned into an unprotected sex but I dint ejaculate inside of her., after which I rushed into the bathroom only to find blood on my whole private part, I quickly forced my self to pee a little and after I cleaned up. Then I asked of her HIV status and she said she’s negative., then after three days I called her for a dinner at about 8pm & she came out, when she got into my car I drove to a pharmacy and bought two HIV testér and asked her to come test with me to which she refused, and requested that we get tested at my house..then I drove to my house and tested her.. her test became positive with two lines on the tester then I tested my self & it was negative with one line so I rushed to a nearby hospital and they put me under ARVs for one month to which I am yet to complete in a week time. And I’m yet to go for a Hiv testing after three months
So my question is:”
Since I had an unprotected sex with someone who’s been HIV positive for three years with a viral load of 850, and since I dint make it to the hospital withing 72 hours’ could It be that i have been infected with Hiv? &
After two weeks of the incidence i began to experience,
Weight loss.
Chills.
night sweat. And a bit feverish,
And recently rashes on my chest.. mean while I’m still on the ARV treatment ., so please “someone”could it be that I’m late on trying to prevent the HIV from growing? Or that the medication is working on taking out the HIV from my system.. thanks,. I hope to receive an answer from an expert and that my shared experience will also help other youths to stay safe and avoid quick and random sex and to try have one faithful partner..
Hi Dinesh,
For info on how HIV is transmitted please see here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Because you had a risky sexual encounter within the last 48hrs, you may wish to use PEP.
http://i-base.info/qa/5255
Dear Admin,
Today i have sex without using condom. She said to me after sex I am suffering from HIV since two years. My concern is that does that HIV virus can be transmitted to me? If that what should i do to for preventing?
View.
Hi Kenton,
Please refer to question one here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Please very much needed help here, I recently heard sex with someone who is HIV-POSITIVE without condom and also without knowing she is positive. apparently I turn to find out that she is currently on medication (ART) drugs. I so concern about this course I have two kids that one is 6 and the other is 3years old, please email me all necessary main points that will be much needed as online counseling, please someone help..thank you,