Question
Is it possible to sleep with someone HIV positive and not get HIV?
23 November 2022. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Sero different couples.
I started to sleep with someone who has had HIV since 2018 up until now. Last month I tested negative. Is this possible?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Yes this is possible. The most probable reason is that your partner is on treatment. While on treatment with a viral load below 200, it is not possible to pass on HIV via sex. This means even without a condom or PrEP, there is no risk of HIV transmission. This is explained by U=U. This stands for when people have an undetectable viral load (below 200), it is not possible for HIV to be transmitted.
There are other factors that can influence the risk of HIV transmission. Sleeping with someone who is positive does not mean you will become HIV positive yourself. These factors inc. type of sex, positions and length of time. More are discussed here.
Josh
Hi Bakhusele, how is your partner doing? As your partner is on treatment it means her viral load will be suppressed. In most cases this will be below 200/undetectable. When someone has a viral load this low it is impossible to pass on HIV.
This is explained by U=U: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Even if they have a higher viral load than this, treatment will still reduce the risk significantly. PEP would not be recommended because of this low risk.
You can see here for more information about testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Yesterday night I had unprotected sex with an infected person and I love her. I want to know if I will be infected as well. She does take her treatment everyday
Hi Abbey, please see here for more information about transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Please I slept with someone and I use condom. When I was using condom I just saw that the condom has tire. Please can I be infected if the person has hiv
Hi Thabo, thanks. Great you were using a condom and it is annoying that they sometimes break or come off. Please don’t worry as the risk from HIV is very small but it is good to still have a routine sexual health check. This link has more info, including about PEP which you can use after an accident and PrEP which is another option to condoms.
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
HIV does not cause you to lose weight so quickly,
I slept with some during sex condom kits just came out bt I saw after I am now loosing too much weight.