Question

Can I have unprotected sex with my partner?

8 August 2008. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Pregnancy.

If you are HIV-positive, can you have unprotected sex with your partner without infecting her?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Every contact between an HIV-positive and negative person that is unprotected has the potential and the risk of infection of the negative partner. Hence, I always advise on using condoms.

Whether you will do it or not is something that you need to discuss with your partner and make an informed and responsible decision. In many countries it is illegal to knowingly put your partner at risk of HIV infection, whether they become infected or not.

This is one of the reasons why your partner should know your HIV-status.

In some circumstances, notably after viral load has been reduced to undetectable levels for a long time, some couples use unprotected sex to conceive a baby. This requires specialist advice.