Mixed-Status (HIV-Positive/Negative) Couples

Articles | Research | First-Person Stories

Magnetic Mama is a 27-year-old psychologist and the uninfected half of a mixed-status couple. She shares her experiences in her blog at TheBody.com, Magnetic Matrimony -- My Journey as Part of a Serodiscordant Couple.

Is pursuing a relationship with an HIVer completely insane? How many magnetic couples like us are there?
I am confused about whether I should disclose my status to sexual partners. On one hand, I feel obligated to protect them, but I also feel that I have a right to privacy. What do you think?
About two months into my current relationship I found out I was positive. Even though my partner and I have stayed together -- and he says he's comfortable with us being a magnetic couple --- his attitude towards sex has totally changed. What should I do?
I just met the man of my dreams, and he's positive. He says he's undetectable and strict with his meds. What does that mean for us?

» More questions

Articles

Getting Pregnant: HIV-Positive Man and HIV-Negative Woman (Serodiscordant) (October 2012)
From The Well Project
Getting Pregnant: HIV-Positive Woman and HIV-Negative Man (Serodiscordant) (October 2012)
From The Well Project
Truvada Helps Couple Cope With Reality of Love and HIV (May 23, 2012)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
UNAIDS Welcomes New WHO Guidelines for HIV Testing, Counseling, ART for Couples (April 20, 2012)
In Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
WHO Releases Guidance on Couples Testing, Counseling, Including ART for Discordant Couples (April 19, 2012)
In Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Guidance on Couples HIV Testing and Counselling Including Antiretroviral Therapy for Treatment and Prevention in Serodiscordant Couples: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach (PDF) (April 2012)
From World Health Organization
Couples With Mixed HIV Status (January 23, 2012)
To read PDF, click here.
From AIDS InfoNet
FAQs About Mixed-Status Relationships (January 12, 2012)
From The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums
New HIV Prevention Findings Delay Release of WHO Guidelines for Discordant Couples (July 26, 2011)
In Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Couples Navigate Love and HIV (January 12, 2011)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Research

Minimal Risk of Sexual HIV Transmission for Heterosexual Couples When the HIV-Positive Partner Has an Undetectable Viral Load (January/February 2013)
To read PDF, click here.
In HIV Treatment Bulletin, from HIV i-Base
On TheBodyPRO.com
Undetectable Viral Load Essentially Eliminates HIV Transmission Risk in Straight Couples (January 25, 2013)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
On TheBodyPRO.com
Quantifying HIV-1 Exposure to Illuminate Resistance to Infection (September 12, 2012)
In Michael Palm HIV Basic Science, Vaccines & Prevention Project Weblog, from Treatment Action Group
On TheBodyPRO.com
Study Examines Potential Benefits of Discordant Couple HIV Therapy (October 19, 2011)
In Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
On TheBodyPRO.com
Early Treatment Reduces HIV Transmission in Heterosexual Serodiscordant Couples (Fall 2011)
In Prevention in Focus: Spotlight on Programming and Research, from Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange
On TheBodyPRO.com
HPTN 052 Study Stopped Early: Significant Reduction in HIV Transmission From Early Use of HIV Treatment in Serodifferent Partners (August 31, 2011)
To read PDF, click here.
In HIV Treatment Bulletin, from HIV i-Base
Tenofovir/FTC vs. Tenofovir as Daily Oral PrEP: Preliminary Results From Partners PrEP (July/August 2011)
To read PDF, click here.
In HIV Treatment Bulletin, from HIV i-Base
Clinical Trials Show PrEP Reduces Heterosexual HIV Transmission (July 19, 2011)
In Black AIDS Weekly, from Black AIDS Institute
Study Finds that Vaginal Infections Make Women More Likely to Transmit HIV to Men During Sex (July 18, 2011)
From Bloomberg.com
Elizabeth Pisani: PrEP Makes No Sense for Discordant Couples (July 15, 2011)
In The Wisdom of Whores

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First-Person Stories

Magnetic Mama: Magnetic Matrimony -- My Journey as Part of a Serodiscordant Couple (Regularly Updated)
From TheBody.com
Being HIV+ with an HIV- Partner Comes With Some Challenges: A Blog Entry by Jeannie Wraight (January 10, 2013)
"Sure there are the now-and-then worries I spoke of. But in the end, the worry is a small price to pay for having such a wonderful person in my life."
From TheBody.com
This Positive Life: An Interview With Peter and Kathy McLoyd (December 22, 2012)
While many believe HIV is a challenge too big for a couple to overcome, nothing could be further from the truth for the McLoyds. Their love is a glue stronger than HIV, and it is crystal clear that they are each other's hero.
From TheBody.com
Personal Perspective: A Story of Magnetic Love (Spring/Summer 2012)
To read PDF, click here.
In Achieve, from ACRIA and GMHC
Personal Perspective: A Hope For Our Son (Spring/Summer 2012)
To read PDF, click here.
In Achieve, from ACRIA and GMHC
Pregnant While Positive: My Husband, Me and Baby Made Three (May 29, 2012)
"The hardest part of my pregnancy wasn't carrying my baby or watching my body swell to accommodate this precious life growing inside of me. The hardest part of the pregnancy was the stigma and discrimination we felt."
From TheBody.com
Conceiving a Child While HIV Positive: A Video Blog Entry by Jermaine Wright (September 23, 2011)
"We may hear a lot about women who are HIV positive and conceiving, and how they can take medications to ensure the fetus does not contract HIV. One thing I've noticed is that we rarely hear about men conceiving while HIV positive."
From TheBody.com
A Decade of Positive Faces: Brian Huskins (Summer 2011)
To read PDF, click here.
In The Positive Side, from Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange
A Killer Sex Drive? A Blog Entry by Brooke Davidoff (February 18, 2011)
"Aaaahh the new stress that I/we face. Will sleeping with my husband kill him in the long run?"
From TheBody.com
What They Say Is True: You Do Have to Go There to Come Back -- A Blog Entry by Magnetic Mama (December 2, 2010)
From TheBody.com

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