The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
Sign up for free e-mail updates!The Body en Espanol
Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

Ask the Experts about Mixed-HIV-Status Couples
Recent AnswersAsk a Question

 

shall I break the relationship?
May 19, 2004

Dear sir, I live in africa and my fiancee, she lives in the USA. I recently found out that I am positve, she is negative. We had safe sex 6 months back when she was in africa. I wanted to stop with her and told her my case, the truth but she insisted that she will always be with me.I know we love eachother but i have no idea how we gonna deal with it. I am afraid that i might infect her if we decide to live together. please advise me.In my country people including doctors advise couples to separate if one of them is found to be positive no matter how much they love eachother and creating a lot of problem. Is it fair?

Response from Dr. Remien

I do not believe that having opposite HIV status is a good reason for ending a relationship. I think the decision to be in a relationship should be based on a range of factors, predominantly the degree to which you love and care about each other. Most couples who are "HIV serodiscordant" are able to have a strong relationship and maintain a healthy and satisfying sex life, as well. Consistently practicing safer sex is an excellent means of preventing HIV transmission within the relationship. It should be entirely up to the two of you if you want to work on maintaining a loving relationship with each other. But you need to know that it is entirely possible, if you want it.



Terms of Use
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.

Copyright notice.