Question
Can I have sex while on PEP?
3 January 2022. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, PEP/PEPSE, Sexual health.
I have just started PEP after a drunk one night stand with an HIV positive person. While I’m on PEP can I transmit the virus to my regular partner of 12 months?
Answer
Hi, how are you?
You can, but most people often have a break from sex while on PEP. Sex without a condom while you are unaware of your status can potentially put your partner at risk of HIV.
If your partner of 12 months is okay to use a condom there would not be a risk of transmitting HIV. Although some other STDs would not be prevented.
Josh.
Hi Eunice, no there is no risk to your partner. As you are on PEP either you do not have HIV or PEP is suppressing HIV so there is no risk.
Regardless, while on PEP it is still recommended to use a condom while you are unsure of your own status.
PEP: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hello ,,,I after having sex with an HIV infected person I started my pep an hour later and then after 2days I had l unprotected sex with my negative partner so is there any possibility of him getting infected?
Hi Kimberly, no you cannot pass on HIV to your partner.
As you are on PrEP you do not have the virus. PrEP is preventing transmission. You do not need to be concerned about passing on HIV.
PrEP: https://i-base.info/guides/prep
Hello, i have used Prep eveyday, and i had sex with an HIV positive man, so It means I got hiv virus and Prep is preventing me from the virus
The question is : If I have sex with my darling without a condom. Can I transmit HIV to him ?
If I really got virus from the positive man, so it means the tonnage lower than 200/undetectable and my virus can not transmit to him ?
Thank you !
Hi Ongom, there is no risk of transmission from this exposure. When on PEP the treatment will also work like PrEP. This means you are protected from further exposures for the duration of the course.
PEP: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hello can some one on 3 weeks course of pep get infected when he/she have unprotected sex with hiv +ve person and continues with pep for 1 week?
Hi Leticia, your partner could not have contracted HIV from yourself while on PEP and then passed it back after you had completed the course.
The only way your partner would test positive is if you also test positive for HIV.
As you have tested negative once it suggests you will remain negative after successfully completing a course of PEP. To confirm your status you will need a 4th gen test at 6 weeks after the last dose of PEP.
This result will then also inform you of any risk to your partner.
Testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hey, I was drunk out on a certain night.The details of the night are blurry. I don’t remember anything,I barely have any flashbacks but my knickers were so dirty the next day. So,I can’t help to think I was assaulted by a stranger. I started my PEP course and after about 14 days I had unprotected sex with a guy. I just got caught up in the moment and forgot to tell him, otherwise I was totally abstaining any form of intercourse. Could he have contracted the virus because am worried?
When I was done with the PEP , after like 2 weeks I had unprotected sex with the same guy. My question is , could he have contacted the virus in the first encounter and then spread it to me in the second encounter? But when I ran a test, it came out negative but the time span is still low so I can’t be sure,am so worried what should I do?
Hi Bobrof, you cannot transmit the virus. When on treatment with an undetectable viral load it is impossible to pass on HIV via sex.
This is called U=U. It means that when you are on treatment with a viral load below 200/undetectable, there is so little HIV in your body that you cannot pass on HIV. It is so low that your partner does not need to be on PrEP.
U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Can an HIV positive male on Arc and undected viral loud have unprotected sex with a woman on prep and still not transmit the virus?