Q and A

Question

Can I have sex with someone who is positive and not catch HIV?

16 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Yes, there are lots of ways to make sure HIV is not transmitted during sex.

  1. 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).
  2. 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).
  3. 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).

209 comments

  1. Want to love •

    Hi im new to the dating thing and i met the sweet lovely guy but he has hiv but he on his medication daily. You dont notice it i want to know is it ok to have sex with him later wuthout a condom and is it ok to kiss and have oral

  2. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Sanza,

    When someone is positive it will show up when they test. The blood type is irrelevant.

  3. sanza •

    Hi

    Is it possible for someone to have HIV virus but every time they get tested the results come back negative even though his previous partners tested positive.
    all in all is it true that there are some blood types which the virus can stay inactive but yet one can infect others

  4. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nicky,

    Being nervous is common. However, for the sake of your own health its important that you know for sure.

  5. Nicky •

    Thanx Lisa
    But I am scared to go for a test because she was not on meds,she wasn’t aware of her status until we went for a test together,

  6. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nicky.

    If the person you were having sex with has an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is close to zero. Please see here for more info:

    http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

    If they aren’t on meds. Then to be on the safe side, you should test. See Q1 here:

    http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions

  7. Young Nicky •

    Hi I had an uprotected sex with someone who is HIV+ while I was having some discharge from my penis so does it mean I am already infected ?

  8. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nicky,

    Please see here:

    http://i-base.info/qa/315

  9. Nicky •

    What does it mean, unditectable viral load ?

  10. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Enos,

    Please see Q5 here:

    http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions