Question
My partner is HIV negative.
28 January 2022. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy, Sero different couples, Sexual health, Starting treatment.
I am pregnant and found out i’m HIV positive. My partner is negative. How is that possible? What can we do for our sexuality going forward?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on your pregnancy. Transmission of HIV between couples is not guaranteed. There are a number of factors that change the risk of transmission. This is a link to a guide about what changes this risk.
Having a normal sex life is absolutely possible. Have you started medication? Doing so will be safest for both you, baby, and your partner. When starting medication, your viral load will drop. It can eventually become undetectable. This means that you will not be able to pass on HIV sexually, even without a condom. This guide explains more about being undetectable.
While on medication, it helps to keep your immune system healthy and reduces transmission to baby. In the meantime, using a condom prevents transmission of HIV. Often viral load becomes undetectable within a month of starting medication. It is then considered robustly undetectable after 6 months. This just means the medication is working well.
Josh.