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

ELAYO • 12 February 2017

l need more advice on HIV and AIDS
Lisa Thorley • 2 February 2017

Hi Pam,

Information about PrEP and PEP can be found here:

http://i-base.info/guides/testing/pep-pepse-and-prep
Pam • 2 February 2017

I slept with the guy then I realized the condom burst. He pulled out immediately. I’m on HIV prevention, truvada. I know I’m negative. Do I have to continue with my truvada or I must go and test before continuing with my treatment. I’m worried and the guy seems not to careless.
Lisa Thorley • 17 January 2017

Hi Jman,

The medication that you’ll have been given is called Post Exposure Prophylaxis, PEP. If used as prescribed, it is very effective in preventing HIV from developing.

Because you don’t know the status of the women that you had sex with, then yes its worth taking. This is even if the risk may have been low, ie a burst condom.

For more on PEP please see the following link:

http://i-base.info/pep-and-prep/
Jman • 17 January 2017

I slept with a woman and condom burst. I went to hospital to test I found negative, and the doctor gave me medication. They say is for prevention. I want to know if is the right thing because I don’t know status of the lady and she refused going with me to hospital.
Manilla • 10 January 2017

For what its worth, the girlfriend acted courageously and thoughtful. Hope everything went well with the test.
Lisa Thorley • 10 January 2017

Hi Gabino,

Please see question one here:

http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Gabino • 10 January 2017

I did sex with a positive girl,after ejaculation the condom burst inside her.After few seconds the girl pushed me as she had already discovered that the condom had burst. I then tried to wash my penis…Since that day, I have been stressed and mood less because I’m afraid to have been infected.I need advice!
Lisa Thorley • 26 December 2016

Hi Kman,

Please see quesiton one here:

http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
kman • 26 December 2016

I slept with a woman without a condom, but pulled out before ejaculating. I’m worried and afraid that I may have HIV. Are there any chance of catching it since I pulled out?