Question

My partner is HIV positive – is it possible that I am not?

28 February 2012. Related: All topics, Children, Sero different couples.

I have been with my partner for seven years on and off. We have two kids together. He became HIV positive in 2004. Our daughter was born in 2008 and our son 2 months ago.

Is it possible for him to be positive and me not to be?

Answer

Answer: Li Marhaban

Thank-you for your question.

It is possible for one partner in a relationship to be positive and the other negative even if they don’t use condoms. However, this is usually just luck if your have remained negative. Over time the risk for you to catch HIV is likely to get higher.

The only way you can know if you have HIV is by getting tested. If you are still HIV negative and have been negative throughout, your children will also be negative. HIV can only be passed from mother to child.

If you have already been tested and are negative it is important that you protect yourself from future risk. In this case please look at this link which will explain about relationships where one person is negative and the other positive.

Please take a look at our Testing and Transmission guide at this link. This guide explains how HIV is transmitted and how the tests work.