Q and A

Question

Is it possible to sleep with someone HIV positive and not get HIV?

I started to sleep with someone who has had HIV since 2018 up until now. Last month I tested negative. Is this possible?

Answer

Hi, how are you doing?

Yes this is possible. The most probable reason is that your partner is on treatment. While on treatment with a viral load below 200, it is not possible to pass on HIV via sex. This means even without a condom or PrEP, there is no risk of HIV transmission. This is explained by U=U. This stands for when people have an undetectable viral load (below 200), it is not possible for HIV to be transmitted.

There are other factors that can influence the risk of HIV transmission. Sleeping with someone who is positive does not mean you will become HIV positive yourself. These factors inc. type of sex, positions and length of time. More are discussed here.

Josh

42 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Chloe, for more information about transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  2. Chloe Matthews

    I had sex on my birthday I did know if he is HIV positive tho because we were talking about a month an the condom burst during the sex but I did insert a toilet paper inna my vagina I don’t know y but I did a this morning his woman can I told me the he an next i comfort him an him block me

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Ain, as this person is on treatment the risk is low to zero.

    After 4 days there is no benefit in taking PEP, however due to this being low risk PEP would not be recommended regardless.

    For more information about transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  4. Ain

    Hi
    I’m Ain I slept with someone that is positive but I believe he’s on treatment
    It have been 4 days now after we slept
    Is it late for pep and does it mean I might be positive too??

  5. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Bakhusele, how is your partner doing? As your partner is on treatment it means her viral load will be suppressed. In most cases this will be below 200/undetectable. When someone has a viral load this low it is impossible to pass on HIV.

    This is explained by U=U: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

    Even if they have a higher viral load than this, treatment will still reduce the risk significantly. PEP would not be recommended because of this low risk.

    You can see here for more information about testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  6. Bakhusele

    Yesterday night I had unprotected sex with an infected person and I love her. I want to know if I will be infected as well. She does take her treatment everyday

  7. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Abbey, please see here for more information about transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  8. Abbey

    Please I slept with someone and I use condom. When I was using condom I just saw that the condom has tire. Please can I be infected if the person has hiv

  9. Simon Collins

    Hi Thabo, thanks. Great you were using a condom and it is annoying that they sometimes break or come off. Please don’t worry as the risk from HIV is very small but it is good to still have a routine sexual health check. This link has more info, including about PEP which you can use after an accident and PrEP which is another option to condoms.
    https://i-base.info/qa/11844

    HIV does not cause you to lose weight so quickly,

  10. Thabo

    I slept with some during sex condom kits just came out bt I saw after I am now loosing too much weight.

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