Question
Is it possible that I can get HIV when my girlfriend is on her medication?
4 September 2023. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy, Starting treatment.
My girlfriend tested positive when she was 6 months pregnant. She started her medication there and then, I also went for a test and I tested negative but we are still having unprotected sex. Is it possible that I can get HIV when my girlfriend is on her medication?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Congratulations on your girlfriends pregnancy.
It is great that she has started treatment straight away.
As your girlfriend has only just started treatment there is still some risk of transmission.
Treatment is used to suppress viral load. The higher the viral load the more risk of transmission.
It can take up to 3 months for viral load to become undetectable, in most people it only takes a month. This is called U=U.
When undetectable, there is no risk of transmission. While waiting for an undetectable viral load it would be recommended to use a condom/PrEP to prevent any further risk of transmission.
When your girlfriend has a viral load below 200/undetectable there will be no risk of transmission via sex.
Josh.
Hi Jonas and thank you for the question.
ARVs can be given for other reasons besides living with HIV.
It is best to have an open, kind and respectful discussion.
Remember that people who are on treatment (for any condition) are engaged in healthcare, and test often.
It is safer to be having sex with someone like that.
When was the last time you were tested?
Have you heard about PrEP? It is a medication you can take to protect you when you are having sex without condoms.
https://i-base.info/uk-guide-to-prep-february-2024/
Please also read the below links that might help educate and resolve your anxiety:
https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
https://i-base.info/pep-and-prep/
Hi how are you?
I had twice unprotected sex with my girlfriend, not knowing that she’s on ARVs.
Is it possible for me to catch HIV?
Hi James, for more information about transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
My girl friend is hiv positive but has been taking her medication . Her exes have tested negative after having an protected sex . So do you think she might transmit it to me