Question

A condom burst with my positive girlfriend. Will I have HIV now?

16 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.

I had sex with my girlfriend and the condom burst while i was inside her. She sent me an SMS a week later and told me she is HIV positive. I didn’t ejaculate inside her. I want to know if there is any chance i did not get infected?

Answer

Answer: Robin Jakob

Thanks for your question – and the quick answer is that you are much more likely to still be negative. Catching HIV from one broken condom is a very low risk.

The risk of transmission is also lower if your girlfriend is on treatment. She should also have had something called a viral load test. Someones viral load tells you how much virus is in their bloodstreat. The lower this is the lower the risk of transmission is.

If your partner is not on treatment the risk of transmission is about 1 in 500.

If she is on treatment and has an undetectable viral load the risk becomes zero. This is because when viral load is this low, transmission doesn’t occur.

All of this means that you are more likely to be negative than positive.

Taking a test is still a good idea as a routine part of your own sexual health check up.

You can find more information about HIV transmission here.

The answer to Q9 at this link have more information about the need for condoms when viral load is undetectable.
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions

71 comments

Simon Collins • 22 October 2016

Hi Bongani, luckily, HIV is difficult to catch so your girlfriend would have been very unlucky to catch HIV from just one exposure. Are you taking HIV meds? If yes, then there is very little risk to your girlfriend, even if you don;t use a condom – see this report:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study
If you are not on treatment yet, this might be something to think about now, as your girlfriend will have this additional protection – as well as it being better for your health.
Bongani • 22 October 2016

Condom burst while making love, girlfriend angry tame ,im hiv+. Scared to lose her. I luv her.
Simon Collins • 20 October 2016

Hi Baby, Please qee question 1 at this link:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
baby • 20 October 2016

Hi I’m so scared just had sex with my partner n condom burst what must I do ?
Simon Collins • 19 October 2016

Hi Rahaman, please have a look at question 1 at this link – which has links to more information online:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Although HIV is a low risk from any single risk, please google PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) or talk to your doctor about this if you are interested.
rahaman • 19 October 2016

If condom break what should I can do then I don’t get hiv
Simon Collins • 19 October 2016

Hi Mostafa, please have a look at question 1 at this link – which has links to more information online:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Although HIV is a low risk from any single risk, please google PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) or talk to your doctor about this if you are interested.
mostafa • 19 October 2016

What can I do if condom break then I don’t get hiv
Simon Collins • 1 October 2016

Hi Rajeev, everything you need to know about risk and test are at this link.
http://i-base.info/qa/11844
Rajeev • 1 October 2016

Hi,
I had sex with a call girl last night. Condom brust after ejaculate inside. when i removed i came to know about it. I do not know the status of that call girl. I immediately washed my penis with water and pepsi which was available with me at that time. I am in tension. Please tell is there any chance of infection. Also tell which medicine i can take to prevent.