Question
Why am I HIV negative if my boyfriend is HIV positive?
29 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Sero different couples.
My partner and I recently went for an HIV test and my results came negative while his came positive. This is very strange because in the 2 years that we have been together, we hardly ever use a condom?
How does this come about? are there other cases like mine? is this possible?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing? and how is your partner?
Your situation is very common and you have just been lucky. The risk of catching HIV is usually quite low, even if you don’t always use condoms. It also related to many things, including your partners viral load (ie how infections he or she is).
The risk is highest in the first few months after infection (1 in 10 or higher). After the first year when viral load is lower, this might only be 1 in 500.
Depending on the type of sex you have, and how often, with these number you see how it could just be luck. You could still catch HIV the next time you are at risk. You should also have another HIV test in 3 months, to check that you were not infected in the few months prior to your original test.
A small percentage of people (less than 1% in the UK), have genetic protection against HIV infection. There are no commercial tests that are able to check this.
While many people think (or hope) they have this protection, and that they will be lucky and not catch HIV if they don’t use a condom, in reality they are usually wrong. This is why numbers of new infections are still increasing each year.
Your partners diagnosis sounds like it was a shock for both of you. Take time to find good resources and support, both for your partner and yourself while you come to terms with what has happened. This affects people in all sorts of ways, but with good treatment and care, your partner can expect to lead a long life.
Also, once your partner has undetectable viral load in ART, they are no longer able to transmit HIV.
For more information on monitoring and treatment see the i-Base Introduction to ART. Please also tell your partner that i-Base run a free treatment phoneline if he would like to talk directly about his care.
This answer was updated in January 2018 from a question posted in October 2007.
I’m sorry but i-Base no longer answers individual questions about risks of HIV transmission or HIV testing.
This service is based on information relating to treatment of people who are HIV positive.
Information online
Most testing questions are already answered on the FAQ page:
http://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
Worried about HIV?
If you are worried about a possible infection contact your local testing centre.
In the UK you can find your nearest clinic using the NHS website:
http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/ServiceSearchAdditional.aspx?ServiceType=SexualHealthService
Understanding HIV test results:
If you do not understand results from an HIV test, please contact the centre where you were tested.
Worried about symptoms?
If you are concerned about any symptoms please contact a doctor.
so i been with my daughter father for 15yr he found out he was positive in 1999 and never told me he found out two yrs after i been with him i have my daughter in 2003 and i just found out 3weeks ago he was positve and never told me i went and got tested it was negative how is that ? i am so so scared why he did this to me ? i just need some one to talk to i am very confuse and just want to die .
Hi im so confused. I tested at end of December 2011 negative, my boyfriend too. he went in december for circumcision. He came back and we had unprotected sex several times. Now both of us tested positive and our baby too. Im so scared dont know where we got it from, i never cheated and he say so too.
This is not a typical question to be found on the FAQ; however, it’s a worry that has always been present.
Have rhere been reports of HIV transmission in different ways to the ones always told in prevention campaigns?.
I have been tested negative 3 times over a period of 7 months.. with my last sexual intercourse a year ago— I’m in love with a woman, and I’m afraid I could test positive because of other ways of transmission, cause I live in a place where people are really used to bad habits and extreme promizcuity. Thanks for your answer.
I’m sorry but i-Base no longer answers individual questions about risks of HIV transmission or HIV testing.
This service is based on information relating to treatment of people who are HIV positive.
Information online
Most testing questions are already answered on the FAQ page:
http://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
Worried about HIV?
If you are worried about a possible infection contact your local testing centre.
In the UK you can find your nearest clinic using the NHS website:
http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/ServiceSearchAdditional.aspx?ServiceType=SexualHealthService
Understanding HIV test results:
If you do not understand results from an HIV test, please contact the centre where you were tested.
Worried about symptoms?
If you are concerned about any symptoms please contact a doctor.
Hi ,
I’ve recently been with a guy with Negative HIV(hi HIV test was done recently). But I am still afraid of getting HIV due to period window!! Do I still need to be tested for positive HIV or Not…
Thanks in advance
Hi Meia,
I’m very sorry to hear about your loss. This is a very sad situation and it must be very difficult for you.
HIV tests are very accurate 3 months after the last possible exposure. So if the last time you had sex with your boyfriend was the 8th of February a test taken on or after the 8th May would be accurate.
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
My boyfriend of 8 months died on March 11 2012 of meningitis due to full blown aids I didn’t know he was positive up until a week before he passed since then I have been tested 5 times through rapid testing all of them have come back negative. Before he got admitted we had not had sex since 2/08/12. I take several tests every month I’m really scared his ex of 6 years is not infected neither is his 3 ye old daughter n her mother. I’m going through a lot I just lost the man I love and I don’t know if I’m infected. Not to mention I have no closure as to why he didn’t tell me he was sick plz help thanks
I’m sorry but i-Base no longer answers individual questions about risks of HIV transmission or HIV testing.
This service is based on information relating to treatment of people who are HIV positive.
Most testing questions are already answered on the FAQ page:
http://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
I’ve been doing a little research and I’ve come across the “unprotected vaginal intercourse has a risk (for the female) ranging anywhere from 1:1000 to 1:10000 depending on different factors” HIV risk per exposure. I understand that these statistics are always assuming the the sex was unprotected but are they also always assuming that the male ejaculated inside the female as well?? Or is it an even higher risk if the male ejaculates inside the female?? Is it high risk if assuming a male was HIV positive ejaculated into a HIV negative female just once, would the chances of her contracting it still be relatively high??