Getting involved with someone who is HIV+

[Yiuppy]

Originally Posted by zentropa

You are very wrong about the risk. Mother-to-child transmission is almost unheard of in the developed world when mothers receive standard prenatal care.

Almost. The risk is too high for my comfort no matter how relatively small. I know of two young girls infected by birth within eight square miles of each other here. Also, I plan on having sexual relations and making children with my prospective husband without condoms...

[fusion2]

Originally Posted by chellemi808

HIV+ people who take their meds religiously are very unlikely to pass the virus on to a partner. Also, uninfected partners can take PReP, which greatly reduces their chance of contacting the disease. When combined with condoms for an even greater level of prevention, these two methods makes virus transmission almost impossible.

The average American doesn't seem well versed these days in HIV prevention methods. It is a shame that positive results from prevention research studies are not more widely shared outside of those groups who are at high risk.

I can understand why so many people would say no, however, for myself, I think having sex with a condom with an untested partner seems to carry a much higher risk (condoms can and do break) than having sex with an infected partner using the newer prevention methods that really work.

I would consider having a relationship with an HIV+ person if I had strong feelings for them and felt confident that they would protect their health and mine by being religious with their treatment plan

It obviously is an individual choice and one that we should all be free to make without judgement or stigma. Having said that, you are right we often have sex with practical strangers, not knowing their status yet if we met someone amazing and took precautions somehow just knowing that puts people off - strange case of what you don't know won't hurt you mentality.

Anyway, while ARV's are absolutely an amazing breakthrough in the treatment of HIV and are giving those infected almost near normal lifespans based on the latest medical evidence - they aren't without side effects for many and the long term impact to overall QOL isn't properly understoid - especially things like fatigue, bowel habits and impact on long term health, the list goes on. ARV's are powerful meds and essentially chemotherapy light for life.. That is pretty serious and PReP is taking ARV's!.. Unless one is engaging in very risky unprotected sex or IV drug use I can't imagine how one would want to casually take such potent medication as PReP if they are not actually afflicted with HIV.

[wolf39us]

I would give that a big stern hell no!

Too many fish in the sea to end up potentially contracting HIV!