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

 

Mrs
Feb 1, 2004

My husband has been HIV+ since 1999 but I only found out about this two weeks after we got married on December 6,2003. We have been having unprotected sex before we got married. I went for an HIV test but came out negative(-). Q1- Is it possible for my husband to be HIV+ and me HIV-? Q2- If yes, how is it so?

Q3- With our present condition, it is ok to continue having unprotected sex since I have been tested negative? Q4- How safe is it for us to have babies since we are both interested in making babies? I hope I will get an answer to all my questions. Your responds will be highly appreciated. Thanks for such a wonderfull forum.

Response from Dr. Remien

I will try to give answer each of your questions.

Q1 Yes, it is possible for him to be positive and for you to still be negative. Transmission of HIV is dependent on many factors. The only way of knowing is to be tested.

Q2 Again, there are many factors that can influence the transmission of HIV. To name just a few of these factors, they include, the health, the strain of virus, and the viral load of the HIV+ person; the health and immune system of the HIV- person; the specific levels of exposure, depending on the behaviors engaged in; luck,etc.

Q3 No, it is not okay to have unprotected sex. Just because HIV transmission has not yet occurred, does not mean that it will not in the future.

Q4 You need to speak with your physician about all of the specifics related to having uninfected children.



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.