Can you spread HIV while taking therapy?

HIV infection and methods of infection

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and HIV infection are one of the global problems of our time. HIV is characterized by damage to the immune system and can subsequently lead to diseases of the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The source of infection is a person suffering from any stage of HIV infection. However, there are a huge number of myths and misconceptions surrounding the disease regarding methods of infection.

You can get infected with HIV	HIV infection is not transmitted
Sexually (through contact with an HIV-infected person, during anal and homosexual contacts)	Airborne
Through the blood	When kissing and shaking hands
Through the use of non-sterile instruments during procedures (injections, tattoos, microblading, manicure)	When using household items and hygiene items
From mother to child (pregnancy, breastfeeding)	When bitten by insects

How to avoid HIV infection?

Of course, the main way to combat HIV infection is prevention. Knowing the routes of transmission of HIV infection, you need to:

• undergo testing for HIV infection in medical institutions;
• avoid unprotected sexual intercourse and promiscuity;
• use barrier contraception;
• make sure that the instruments used are sterile when carrying out medical procedures and procedures in beauty salons; 
• do not use injecting drugs.

Most people who discover they have HIV infection panic. However, the disease is not fatal and can be treated. It is important to immediately contact specialized centers, where the patient will be selected the appropriate medications and prescribed treatment.

Be sure to follow all recommendations of your doctor regarding dosage and frequency of use of drugs.

HIV infection and partner

A patient who discovers he has HIV infection must inform his partner about it. Of course, many people are very scared when discussing this issue, and this is a completely natural feeling. It is very difficult to predict how another may react to this information. As a rule, the partner has many questions:

• Am I already infected with HIV?
• Is it treatable?
• Is HIV transmitted while taking therapy?

It is important not to give in to panic and emotions, but to undergo a mandatory check to exclude or confirm the disease factor.

Therapy for HIV infection

Many people are interested in the safety of their partner during illness. What should a couple do if only one of the partners is HIV positive? In such cases, the infected patient should take medications prescribed by the doctor and undergo long-term therapy.

Can you spread HIV while taking therapy? After conducting large-scale studies of patients who follow all doctor’s recommendations and take therapy, scientists have concluded that people with HIV infection do not transmit the virus to their partners.

British scientists monitored 900 couples for 1 year and 3 months. One of the partners in the couple was HIV-infected and was taking therapy. As a result, it was revealed that during regular unprotected sexual intercourse, not a single case of HIV transmission was recorded.

Thus, the question: “Is he HIV-infected and taking therapy?” can be answered in the negative.

How are the results of this study useful?

• HIV-positive people may experience less worry and anxiety about infecting their partner, since HIV on therapy is not contagious;
• HIV-negative people, in turn, may be less concerned about the risk of infection
• The study helps dispel myths and misconceptions around HIV.

Remember that prevention and treatment allow you to take timely measures to reduce the likelihood of transmitting HIV infection to loved ones. Take care of your health and do not neglect the recommendations of specialists.