10 Harmful Myths About HIV/AIDS

By Warren Tong
From TheBody.com

10/11

It's OK to Have Unprotected Sex if You and Your Partner Are Both Positive

Many people are unaware of superinfection (reinfection), which is defined as infection by a second strain of HIV. Even if you contracted HIV from your current partner, HIV can evolve differently in each person's body; if it mutates, a different strain can emerge in your body than in your partner's. Superinfection with a drug-resistant strain of HIV can limit treatment options.

Having an undetectable viral load does greatly lower the risk of transmission between an HIV-positive person and his or her partner. But unprotected sex between two positive partners still carries a risk for HIV superinfection, not to mention other sexually transmitted diseases.

Warren Tong is the associate editor for TheBody.com and TheBodyPRO.com. Follow Warren on Twitter: @WarrenAtTheBody.

This article was provided by TheBody.com.

AIDS Myths

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Comment by: Al B. (NY) Tue., Oct. 25, 2011 at 5:54 am EDT
Having sex with a virgin cures HIV

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Comment by: Barbara (Tampa, FL) Mon., Oct. 24, 2011 at 11:52 am EDT
Oral sex can be problematic when both parties are HIV+ and have gingivitis or periodontal disease and exchange fresh blood from bleeding gums.

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