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).
My name is Vincent I’m HIV positive. My partner came to visit me for a week. We had unprotected sex. Is she at risk?
Hi Elias,
If you’re worried, you will need to test. Please see Q1 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi i slept with a person once and we did not use a condom but for the second we took a rapid hiv test before and found that she is positive then we use a condom so i just want to know if i may be affected also
Hi Lazola,
Because the guy you’ve been sleeping with is on treatment and has been for a while, the risk of you contracting HIV is close to zero. Please see the results of the PARTNER study for more info.
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
If however, you are worried, you will need to test.
Hi I have been sleeping with this guy since I met him last year.this year early January he left me in his house Nd I did the cleaning for him.I saw arvs with his name on.Nd old ones from 2015,he Neva say anything about this to me from the fest day we Neva use condom.u confronted him Nd he said I will Neva get it coz all his baby mama are negative.I love him I’m still with him Nd not using condom.I’m also scared to get tested..do u think I’m HIV positive
Hi Tawana,
If you’re on treatment and have an undetectable viral load then the risk of transmission is close to zero. And this is when having sex without a condom. For more info please see the results of the PARTNER study:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
If you aren’t on treatment, then the only safe way of having sex is with a condom.
I’m HIV positive and my partner isn’t. We’ve never had sex because I’m scared that I might give him the virus! So,how can we have sex and be safe other than using a condom?
Hi Elsie,
If the pills were your boyfriends, then is he has an undetectable viral load the risk is close to zero. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Information about testing can be found here at question 1:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi my name is Elsie. I have been worried sick ever since I slept with my partner for the first time without a condom. In the morning when i woke up I saw a bottle of trivenz. I have known him for 5 years but our relationship was unstable, breaking up and making up. I asked him about the bottle and he said I should not worry because the bottle is not his. I tried to remain calm but I couldn’t. Later after a week I went for HIV testing and it came out negative. I was told about a window period, I’m scared to test for a second time after 3 months, if he is positive what are the possibility that I’ll be positive?
Hi Nomveliso,
Please see question 1 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions