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.
Hello. I would love to know if rapid test results are always accurate or is it good to confirm the result with another test?
There are several possible explanations of why your test is now HIV positive:
1. It is a very rare but possible false positive test result. This means it is even more important that you go for a second confirmatory test
2. Your infection is not because of unprotected sexual transmission but due to sharing of needles or blood transmission
3. Your boyfriend and the other girl are lying about their negative HIV test
4. You were infected before you got together with your boyfriend but were not tested at that time
The list could go on. However, the most important thing to focus on now is your health and your baby’s health. If your second HIV test is also positive then you need to get a CD4 count and viral load test. Having done this you need to discuss with your doctor the options of treatment to ensure that your baby does not get HIV and that you remain healthy during the pregnancy.
For more information please follow this link to our guide on ‘HIV, pregancy and women’s health‘. If you have anymore questions please do contact us again.
Good luck with starting a family!
I am pregnant and have been with my boyfriend for 4 years now. I’ve been careful in all relationships I’ve been in but now what confuses me is that I tested positive for HIV and he tested negative. Ever since I’ve been with him I have never cheated but he did. He told me that he recently slept with another girl without protection and I sent both of them to test and hers also came out negative. I don’t understand how I could be HIV positive if he has been my only partner. I’ve been testing negative all along but now I’m positive. I’m too scared to take another test.
Thank you for your question.
It is impossible to say what your chances are of getting HIV. You are doing the best thing by taking a HIV test. That is the only way you will know if you are infected.
For further information, please follow this link to a factsheet on HIV transmission and testing.
Hello there,
I had unprotected sex 3 weeks ago and I am scared. I was drunk, it was a one night stand, with a girl I knew her from the internet. I told her to test for HIV 2 weeks after the exposure she did it and she told me she is negative. She also told me I came inside her. I was drunk as I said and the unprotected sex was around 3 to 4 minutes max. I took a test on the 1st week after exposure and it came back negative. I will make another HIV test at 4 weeks. I am hoping for no bad news. Can someone please tell me what are my chances of getting HIV?
Thanks
All types of HIV can be transmitted in the same way. There is no form of HIV that is only transmitted through unprotected anal sex. You should go for a HIV test to know if you are HIV positive. If you are found to be HIV positive then there is treatment available to manage HIV which will give you a good quality of life and a near normal life expectancy. If you are found to be HIV negative then there are ways in which you can continue to protect yourself to ensure you remain negative.
For more information on HIV transmission and testing please follow this link.
I had sex with my ex wife three times while I was home on leave from Iraq. She emails me today to tell me she is HIV positive. I asked her when we had sex do I need to wear a condom she told me no. I asked her did she know she was HIV positive before we had sex and she told me yes. I aksed why didn’t you tell me so I could have protected myself? Her excuse was that I couldn’t get the type of HIV she had unless we had unprotected anal sex
Thank you for your question.
The only way you will know you are HIV positive is if you do a test. There are tests available called rapid tests which take a drop of blood and can give you results in about 10-20 minutes. The availability of this test depends on the country you are in. In the UK it is available. However, the preferred method of testing uses blood taken with a syringe. For more information on testing and transmission please follow this link.
Hi,
Can I walk into my doctors and get a quick HIV test? I have heard that they only take a drop of blood now and can be done in mins with answer?
I was with my girlfriend for about 2 and a bit years, we always had unprotected sex, as she was on the pill etc. She did have a test for HIV a few months into the relationship and it came back negative. We were a very active couple sexually. I have not had unprocted sex since her as we split a year ago.
Would this mean there is a good chance am HIV negative too? Think I may have a form of anaemia as I have been feeling very weak, warn out and getting very dizzy and light headed recently. Any help would be very grateful.
Thanks
Thank you for your questions.
The only way to know if someone has HIV is by doing a HIV test. It is possible for someone to have unprotected sex with a positive person and not get HIV. However, unprotected sex is not recommended when you are not certain of someone’s HIV status.