Question

Is my risk of HIV higher if it is my first time having sex?

19 May 2011. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission, Pregnancy.

My partner is HIV positive.To be safe we have avoided any penetration so far. I want to concieve now, but I need to be sure that our child would be safe from the virus.

I’ve read the suggestions on this site, however, I am not sure wheather they apply to me. I will surely tear and bleed as it will be my first time and that puts me at a greater risk of getting infected.

If I get infected while concieving, would the virus definety be transmitted to the foetus? Or do we have a chance of having a healthy child?

Please answer.

Answer

Answer: Charlotte Walker

Thank you for your question.

If your partner is positive and not on treatment then it is very important that you use a condom and lubricant the first few times you have sex before you try to conceive. You are right that if it is your first time having sex then you are at more risk of tearing and bleeding.

Is your partner on treatment? What is his viral load? How long has he been on treatment? It is possible for you to conceive naturally and for you and your child to remain negative. However, you have to speak to your doctor about this and make sure you only have unprotected sex when you are at your most fertile and when your partner has had an undetectable viral load for over 6 months. If you use lubricant this will help to prevent any tearing and you would both need to make sure you have no other sexually transmitted infections.

If you get infected when conceiving then the baby is at higher risk because when someone is first infected the amount of virus in their blood increases very rapidly and it would mean you are more infectious. You would need to test for HIV regularly during the pregnancy. If you find that you do get a positive test result during your pregnancy then you will need to start treatment straight away to prevent your baby becoming infected.

For more information on HIV, women’s health and pregnancy please follow this link to our guidebook.