Q and A

Question

Can I have sex with a HIV positive person and not get infected?

7 December 2010. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.

Hi,

Is it possible to have sex with a HIV positive person and not get infected?

I had unprotected sex with a woman last year in September and in November she tested positive and she is on treatment now. I went for my an ELISA 4th generation test in February and it was negative.

I went again after a week, still negative. The woman is 100% sure that I was the last person she slept with before her test, hence why I am asking this question. Thank you

Answer

Answer: Charlotte Walker

Thank you for your question.

It is possible to have sex with someone who is HIV positive and not become infected. HIV s a difficult virus to catch and the risk is probably less than 1 in 300 (if the person is not on treatment).

If the HIV positive person has an undetectable viral load on treatment, this small risk becomes zero.

in the same way that not every time you have unprotected sex with a woman does she become pregnant. You were just lucky.

Please see Q1 and Q5 at this link:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions

Note: this answer was modified in January 2018 to include a new link. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about testing and risk.

26 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Dips,

    If you’re on medication and have an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is close to zero. For more info please see the results of the PARTNER study:

    http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

    If you aren’t on treatment, and you aren’t using condoms then your boyfriend is at risk of contracting HIV.

  2. Dips •

    My boyfriend and I started having sex, he knows that I’m positive and he’s negative what chances are the chances that he’ll get HIV?

  3. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Lerato,

    Please see Q’s 1 and 5 here:

    http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions

  4. Lerato •

    I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend not knowing his status last week the 4th then tested on the 12 his came positive mine negative is it possible that I might be infected?

  5. Simon Collins •

    please see this FAQ page on risk and testing.
    http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  6. hassan •

    i had unprotected sex for 1 minute with a lady who is HIV + she started cryin after d sex n informed me of my worst nightmare. pls wat Can i do so as not to get infected. is there any chance for me to be negative?

  7. Roy Trevelion •

    We no longer answer questions about transmission and testing. This information service is about HIV treatment for people who are HIV positive.

    Most questions about transmission and testing have been answered here:
    http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  8. Johannes •

    I slpt with sm1 who is positive without using den folling I started 2 pains in my stomach,is dat signs of being positive

  9. Simon Collins •

    plse see:
    http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  10. blade •

    i had protected sex with someone infected, she was seeing her period unknown to mi but i didnt came in contact with her blood cause i was using a condom does that means i will get infected