Question
Can I get married if I am HIV positive?
14 January 2008. Related: All topics, Living with HIV long-term, Newly diagnosed.
Hi. Can I marry if I am HIV positive? I am only 28 male, and just diagnosed. How long I can live if I start HAART in future? Do you also think there will be more treatement options in future? Thank you
Answer
Yes, most countries have no legal obstacles against marriage, though many countries do have laws that saw you need to tell your partner about your HIV status. There are some countries where discrimination limits human rights, so it also depends where you live.
Many HIV positive men get married – to partners who are either HIV positive or HIV negative. If their partner is HIV-negative it is still possible to have children
Im sorry for people who got HIV, may they have a good recovery. However, why many people disagree about HIV testing before marriage and think it’s discrimination.
I’m from Uzbekistan. Here it is mandatory for both girl and man to go doctor check if either partner has some serous transmitting diseases.
Or if one of them has narcotics abuse, and if one of them has mental disorders like nervous conditions.
Hi Yussif, there are many options you have to prevent transmission of HIV. The main one being ARVs. Are you on ART? If you are undetectable (viral load below 200) you cannot pass on HIV via sex. This is supported by U=U, meaning that when you are undetectable and on ART you cannot pass on HIV via sex: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
There are additional options. Choosing to use a condom prevents transmission however this would prevent having a child. There is also the option of your potential wife starting PrEP. This is a medication similar to ART that she would be able to take everyday and it prevents transmission of HIV. https://i-base.info/prep-for-women/
I’m hiv positive and the woman i want to marriad is negative it’s possible for to get the hiv
Hi Josh
Unfortunately, some countries and regions/district (see below) might still include mandatory HIV testing before marriage. In some cases, people are not allowed to marry unless the results are negative.
This is likely to breach several United Nations human rights. It is not supported by science, adds to stigma against HIV, and will probably stop people from testing. It is even more difficult to understand now there is effective HIV treatment that also prevents HIV transmission, including in marriage.
I don’t know of a resource to check globally though. Each country or region needs to be checked as laws might also change for the better or worse.
The Open Society Institute (OS!) published a useful booklet on the laws in 2010 but I hope that things have improved in some places by 2022.
This booklet says that BahraIn, GuInea, United Arab EmIrates, and SaudI Arabia mandate premarItal testing. Also, local governments and legislatures in five Indian states, districts in the Yunnan province of China, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have laws or regulations. Uzbekistan requires a premarital consultation with a medical practitioner, who can mandate an HIV test. In Cambodia, Senegal and Zimbabwe, some groups called for mandatory HIV testing to try to protect young women at high risk.
Also, that some churches in Burundi, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda have mandatory premarital HIV testing.
It is probably important to be cautious until undated information is available.
OSI booklet (Published 2010):
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/mandatory-premarital-hiv-testing-overview
Hi Jagdish, being HIV positive should not impact on your ability to marry. Where in the world are you based? Some countries do have requirements to be met before marriage but these should still not stop you.
Iam HIV positive person Direct marriage
Hi Mansi, you do not need to disclose your parents status to your parents. There is no legal obligation to tell them of your partners status. You should only tell them if your partner consents to you telling them, and that you are both comfortable to do so.
Do I need to tell my parents that my partner is HIV+ if we plan on getting married
Hi Nafis, there are no restrictions in India for an HIV positive person marrying. In India it is illegal to discriminate against people with HIV in terms of healthcare, education, public services etc.
Hi ! Swathi Myself Nafis 31 i m HIV+ nd looking for mrrg, i was based in Malaysia but from last couple of months i m in india …