Undetectable risk

[BFF-Dildo]

Chatting with someone who is undetectable and on medication, but I am negative and not on prep medication. I’ve heard that the medication makes transmission of the virus near impossible. Have any negative guys had sex with those who are undetectable? Is there a chance of transmission even while on medication?

 

[KaraBulut]

The research does support that HIV+ people who are on antitretroviral (ART) medications and who show am undetectable viral load have a statistically zero chance of transmitting HIV to a partner.

However, these studies are limited scope studies and they were focused primarily on couples where one partner was HIV+ and the other was HIV-. This partner scenario is probably the best data we have because it is a case where we know the HIV status of both partners and we know the viral load of the HIV+ partner. It's also important to pay attention to the population of the study because many of the older studies only looked at heterosexual couples who were having oral and vaginal sex. Some of the recent studies are more focused on homosexual couples having both oral and anal sex.

There are some other studies where an HIV- person was put on PrEP and then followed over a period of time and the studies found low incidences of seroconversion. In these studies, the HIV+ status of their sexual partners was unknown, so we can't say that there was non-existent chances of HIV transmission. We can say that PrEP significantly lowers the risk of seroconversion.

If you were proposing a situation where you and your partner were considering having unprotected sex and a) one of you was HIV+ with an undetectable viral load and b) the HIV- negative partner was on PrEP, then you could be relatively assured that your chance of HIV+ transmission was low to non-existent.

However, it sounds like you are proposing a different scenario where a) you are considering sex outside of a relationship, b) with someone who claims to have a low viral load and c) you are considering unprotected sex with this relative stranger. This scenario does pose a scenario different than most of the studies. And it also poses a problem in that you're putting your health status into the hands of a stranger about whom you know very little. There's no research that can give you assurance that there's no chance of HIV transmission in this scenario.

One of the reasons that PrEP is being pushed is that it puts the responsibility for your health in your own hands. That's a much better scenario- at least when it comes to HIV risk.

 

[BFF-Dildo]

I appreciate the well-researched response, thank you.

 

[mbamike]

I've bottomed for an HIV+ guy. I'm on prEP and he used a condom. It's been several months since our hookup. I'm still HIV-. I get tested every three months.

If you are not in a monogamous relationship or if your relationship is new, I highly recommend you get on prEP.

 

[PrinceCory]

Here in USA isn't PrEP expensive like hundreds of dollars a month?

 

[KaraBulut]

Here in USA isn't PrEP expensive like hundreds of dollars a month?

Try $1,300 per month.

Private insurance will cover it under certain circumstances. Gilead, the manufacturer, also offers an cost assistance program.

The good news is that Gilead's patent will expire in 2020, so that will drop the cost significantly.

There's also some trials going on with implantable anti-retrovirals that would be injected under the arm and would release the drug over weeks. This would remove the need to take the daily doses required for both HAART/ART and PrEP.

 

[gymrat]

Although the risk is low, it's not zero. To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum: Life (or Death) will find a way. The HIV virus mutates rapidly so that if someone with HIV takes their medications inconsistently, he/she is more likely to develop a drug resistant strain and pass that strain onto their sex partner. There's been a few case reports of patients being infected with a Truvada resistant strain. There's also a patient on PREP that was infected with a drug sensitive strain. He had multiple sex partners while he was on PREP. He was also previously diagnosed twice with rectal gonorrhea and once with rectal chlamydia. He used a lot of recreational drugs including crystal meth, cocaine, GHB, mephedrone and ketamine. https://www.poz.com/article/prep-fails-third-man-time-hiv-drug-resistance-blame.

 

[mark73]

I am HIV+ ( since 2009 ) and have been on medication since first discovery, my Viral load is Undetectable. My Husband is HIV-
And we have Sex with out a condom ( we didn't at the start, I insisted on a condom, Although I have been undetectable pretty much, the last 9 and a half years )
He comes to see my HIV doctor with me and for the last five years we have not used protection, and every 3 months his HIV tests, come back negative.
Any person who is undetectable, and takes their medication Daily, can not pass HIV on, so it's up to you, if preferred use a condom.
But as I have said, I am HIV+ My husband is HIV- and still remains HIV- after 5 years of us having UNPROTECTED sex.
And just remember Being on Prep, does not mean you, still, can not be Infected !!!!!!!!!!!!!! by anyone who's viral load is above the undetected level !!!!

 

[ShadowCat]

No I'm sorry but my luck is absolute shit I have enough to worry about in my family history asthma (which I have) diabetes grand parents and mom cancer uncle aunt heart disease grandfather stroke and ms grandmother. I don't wanna go stirring the pot and take a chance. In fact after finding out that Rocco Steele is + I haven't watched much of his porn (I can't help if he is in a scene and the preview doesn't get to his scene) I just find it disgusting that a studio would know their performer is pos but they don't insist on a condom and then he's cumming in his partner's asshole. It just scares me.