News: CDC Declares HIV Can’t Be Transmitted If Undetectable
It’s something that’s been bubbling in the HIV+ community for a while now, but this time there’s a definitive statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a recent memo released in recognition of National Gay Men HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the CDC declared that “people who take ART daily as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.”
“No risk”, in this instance, means that the person with HIV poses no danger of infecting his partner, even if he has sex without a condom or he’s not using PrEP.
This statement also comes after news in the past few months about HIV being “virtually cured”, such as the case of one South African child last August.
All of this said, the CDC does say that more work needs to be done to get medication to those infected with HIV. In a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that the memo cites, it’s revealed that only 61% of gay and bisexual men have achieved viral suppression. The CDC also points out that lower income and educational levels, as well as stigma and discrimination directed towards those infected with HIV, prevent those infected from seeking out treatment and prevention services.
The CDC also noted that there was an increase of diagnoses among Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men from 2010 to 2014. Additionally, the Center is also calling for more awareness among the community, especially since a recent report pegs the number of gay men infected with HIV but unaware of it at 600,000.
What do you guys think about this recent development? If you’re living with HIV, what kind of impact will this have on you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Medically true but for some, maybe many the stigma of declaring oneself poz ends the discussion.
That’s because you are using the WRONG terminology bud. Use the term the CDC uses here, . . . “UNDETECTABLE”!!!!
If it still ends the discussion, you’re talking to the wrong people.
Hmm. An individual must still play it safe in my opinion.
This is why I dont even ask anyone if they are neg or poz… because condom is the way to go…If people are having unsafe sex.. then all bets are off, dont be asking if the dude is poz or neg after sex…. People are funny…. with their logic…
That’s great news! Playing it safe and using condoms, at least initially, is still the best option, IMO. It seems to me that there is a greater danger to the poz guy, in the case where his partner infects him with another STI. There are still plenty of other STIs out there that will ruin your day… Even if your HIV is under control, you still don’t want to get infect with one of the multi-drug resistant strains of gonorrhea out there, for instance.
I agree completely! If you’re having sex with multiple partners, use a condom! As a healthy, HIV+-Undetectable man, knowing I’m not going to transmit the virus, is quite a relief. Hopefully but doubtfully, this will reduce stigma which is the real killer. Bob
I’m distrustful, cynical as all hell. I think that there’s just not enough of us are not dead, yet… I think that the pharmaceutical giants aren’t rich enough, yet…
amen! We need some thumbs up buttons on here!
I still have my doubts about this.
That’s called prejudice benji…
Most treatment programs test for STD’s as well as viral load, so the only risk is that the partner may give something to the HIV-suppressed individual. That is the biggest concern infectious disease physicians describe.
Ignorance and stigma are the greatest barriers to arresting the spread of this disease. In the early days, testing was anonymous and people gladly went. New infections declined, as most new diagnoses stopped having sex. I remember that time. Then Jesse Helms demanded testing quit being anonymous, and fanned the flames of stigma, and it got away. Now, we see the greatest spread on the ground currently less included by the powerful elements of society.
Hispanics are skylined now, and less likely to do anything that may get them on a list or requiring government help. That part can be blamed in one direction. We all must quit our hurtful attitudes toward those infected, even though with undetectable viral loads. And we must quit shaming those on PrEP.
Progress stops when those who most should have a supportive attitude, have the worst ones. We must carry the torch.
And the fact that good sex actually helps health is one reason why the shunning behavior actually worsens the condition of those already carrying a challenge. Those gay guys who say the infected ones deserve it, or shouldn’t be allowed any sex even if on meds,are right there with Jesse Helms. If CDC can admit something useful, we can all fry to be supportive too.
And because it’s become relatively hard to get HIV these days (fortunately), people are letting their guard down – and the incidence of other sexually transmitted diseases has spiked dramatically. You still have to be vigilant about gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, etc. They’re easier to catch than they are to spell.
I don’t believe it. Now all poz men will say they undetectable and spread it around. No thanks. I’d rather wank than to believe that and get the bug
You’re missing the point. It’s guys that are tested, not ones that are saying it.
So, ask to see test results.
We have come along way since the 80’s when HIV was a sure death sentence. I remember working with a man that was infected then and was afraid of the mosquitoes and getting infected by them after they bit him. Now we have prep, news of a cure and this new information.
While one still needs to be careful and make decisions based on his comfort level it is important to educate yourself fully.
Many men on Adam claim to play safe only. However, will play raw and let you breed them all because you say your clean and ddf. This is how not only HIV is passed around but all other sexual diseases as well. Prep does not cover those. I myself would rather play with someone honest about their status and how they play then someone that lies about how they play and will let you fuck them raw just because you claim to be clean.
There are many great men out there that are infected. The stigma that all of them must be whores, on drugs or just plain nasty is nothing short of pure hate and failure to open your mind enough to kind.
I don’t have an issue with undetectable, but with those that bareback everyone they meet. HIV may not be an issue, but there’s so many other bugs that can be caught.
Let’s be optimistic. Progress is being made. Twenty years ago by brother was diagnosed with AIDS — and died within six months. He didn’t have a chance with the early drugs like AZT. We are looking at a new era in HIV/AIDS, and we should welcome it.
I feel as a culture we need to put our cumulative weight behind more research and development now for new antibiotics. A growing concern amongst health officials and the LGBT community is that repeated uses of those that are available for other STDs such as gono chlamydia and syphilis are going to eventually lose their efficacy. Because repeated infections are treated with the few that are available repetitively over time, the STD would develop immunity to the antibiotics currently available.
This was also published by the CDC for immediate release 3 days ago and I’m sure the medical community would hope that all practice caution and make informed choices. I have to remind myself that when it comes to my gay sexual activities, the decision I make is not only affecting me but also those that are engaging in the activity with me and I have a responsibility to inform them of the choices regarding sex that I bring to the playing field.
CDCNewsroom HomePress MaterialsCDC Newsroom Releases
STDs at record high, indicating urgent need for prevention
Latest U.S. data reveal threat to multiple populations
Press Release
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
That is not an ironclad guarantee, and says nothing about other stds, so it is not a license to have unprotected anal intercourse. One must still be sensible. Parasites, diseases abound. Herpes remains incurable.
The last thing we need is encouragement to be stupid about sexual behavior, or promiscuous, trashy and dirty.
Now, I want to point out that we owe debts to Hugh Hefner. He came out as bisexual at one time, or at least admitted to experimenting with men, and on the Tonight Show! Though he did kind of wince in relation to anal intercourse, so I guess he didn’t care for bottoming. He also was the first to have photos of naked men in Playboy, before Playgirl appeared, and was gay-friendly and supportive at a crucial time. He made, in many ways, Gay Liberation possible.
Hugh Hefner worked to make anything-goes sex as American as cherry pie. Unfortunately he was quite successful. Given the AIDS deaths due to anything-goes sex among gay men, it seems bizarre to me that anyone would think that Hefner should be on a pedestal. The cost of the sexual revolution, for which Hefner and his ilk were cheerleaders, is arguably monstrous and probably incalculable. That cost could include about sixty million abortions, an untold number of AIDS deaths, suicides (including not a few of Hefner‘s “bunnies” and “playmates,” porn addictions, sexualization of youth (many youngsters found stashed copies of Playboy and other “adult“ magazines), adultery, divorces, broken families, etc. The anything-goes sex superstition is anything but positive in my opinion. And we have not even touched on the possible eternal consequences.
There is still no excuse for men under the age of 45 or more to have HIV at all, and the fact that they have it, even if undetectable, means they have been irresponsible and unsafe, and are therefore still unsafe to be with. They lack respect for themselves and their partners.
I disagree. I’m 40, have been poz since 25, am undetectable for over 10 years. Yes I have unprotected sex. I choose to, that’s my preference. I get checked up and take care of my health. I’m not sleeping with every Tom, Dick, and yes you too Hairy. I have tremendous respect for myself and others. I work, have my own, and am in the best health now, even better than as a teenager.
Me contracting HIV was no mistake. I purposely put myself at risk as a teen. It was my suicide attempt. Being raised in the church I was always told how wrong I was to be gay, you know the going to hell, etc. I read books, went to counseling, prayed, cried cus I wanted to be “straight”. I then had a low self esteem and hated myself. I wanted to get sick so I would die since I couldn’t change myself. I’ve buried many friends over the years. Years later I kept getting sick. I finally got tested, and just in time.
I thank God I did. Now I take my medicine and better care of myself, both physically, mentally, and even sexually. How one chooses to engage is a personal choice. It says nothing of one’s worth, intelligence, etc. As a gay community we are already cast down by many things. Let us stop putting each other down. Encourage everyone to know their status, get tested. Whether poz or not, the medicines available today work in the prevention or destruction of the virus. This is great news. Everyone didn’t have this chance, many even today don’t have access.
So let’s love each other and encourage one another to take care of our health.
an incredibly harsh and judgmental statement.
This sort of sounds like good news I’m also especially happy for that child who was cured I wonder if we will end HIV/AIDS in our time? In light of all this I still feel that people should still use protection until that day comes. As for those who are afraid to get tested or are afraid to be open about their status. I feel that “fear” is definitely one of the factors, however the State of Mind and the level of “genuine acceptance” in the gay community for Hiv/aids individuals is largely at fault for this. The Dilemma for an HIV positive gay/bi individual is “acceptance” “will they or won’t they”?? There are people who come forward and are open about their status and are exiled degraded and ridiculed by the gay community, viciously might I add.
Gay dating websites like Jack’d grindr Scruff and even Adam for Adam give you the option to disclose your status. however I don’t think that this is something that is used to spread awareness or to establish acceptance. I feel that this is more so about being able to “weed them out” . I feel that this is when gay men are left wide open to being attacked by their very own community, on “gay social media” none the less. I feel that this is what causes gay/bi individuals who are HIV positive to withdraw from being open and knowledgeable of their status, it is those experiences that determine their decision.
Honestly in my opinion I don’t feel that anyone’s HIV status should be put on display on any app gay or straight. I feel that anyone who is hiv-positive should have the right to disclose that information on a “face-to-face basis only if sex is definitely on the table”.. unfortunately in these times that’s not how the gay community (or whatever part of society One belongs to) has it mapped out, they feel as though they should know your status even if they’re just looking at you. Sad to say but it’s almost like being a registered sex offender.
Like it or not it is the truth and if you don’t believe me go on your scruff or Adam4Adam profile or Grindr profile and change your health status to positive.. or how about someone who is HIV negative “as an experiment just to try it out” walk a mile in an HIV positive individuals shoes. create a “new you” create a profile that says you’re positive and experience it for yourself. Come on we all create additional profiles to achieve sexual agendas.
I’m probably not going to make many friends for saying any of this and I honestly wasn’t trying to make any by saying any of this either. I can live with this though. Honesty shouldn’t offend, honesty should enlighten your acceptance and encourage a will to make change. Let’s face it one of our biggest setbacks within the gay community is “honesty and what others will do with it once you have given it to them”.
Peace and love everyone
I just wanted to say thank you. Your comments were dead on. I was one of the first guys to put my status in my profiles on the dating apps. This was before the apps had places for you to indicate it. Everyone that will speak to me applauds my honesty. Those are the ones that speak. The number of those has dwindled. I think it’s odd that the gay community has become so unaccepting of POZ individuals., particularly at a time when we have statements like this from the CDC. If I had the chance to change my profiles now to negative and have everyone forget what it really is, I would.
I also read remark by others about POZ guys being irresponsible by virtue of their status. These people should remember there was a time when Safe Sex wasn’t known to prevent infection. There may be few of us left around but my point is we shouldn’t make judgments like that because you don’t know how or why and it doesn’t matter.
Totally agree with every word!! Thank you!
I do disclose my status on gay apps/websites. Mainly for me to ‘weed out’ those guys who will reject me for it. So, it works both ways. I also see it as a way to protect myself legally, as there is proof on my profile that I did disclose before any sexual activity. Non-disclosure is a crime in Florida and many other states.
Thanks for your honesty!
Amen Blue truth!
The damage is done, being HIV positive and letting a partner know about it will probably for many not change anything. All we can do is take it as a lesson like any other illness and use protection.
Yay! Thank you! It’s about time!
After being POZ for 23 years and living with the isolation and discrimination amongst the gay community at large, it is great that Adam is finally reporting this.
Not sure what affect it will have but hopefully the stigma will decrease.
How will it sexually affect me? Probably none. Still need to play safe. HIV is only one STD of many, after all.
Thanks Adam!
Its wonderful to hear this kind of news but i have to agree wit “Ron” play it safe, use condoms and be honest with your partner. As a HIV -ve bi 26 year old man, i’ve seen too many ppl throw caution to the wind and end with the results of HIV +ve, talking to ppl about HIV & AIDS is a sensitive matter especially if they are not educated about it, you would not believe the amount of ppl i bring up the topic about getting to know your stats even if you think you are -ve and they start to cold sweat.
@RON – yeah, because there are still too many who do not know their HIV status.
I’d much rather hook up with a guy who’s honest about his positive status – we might not do some things or do them differently – than with a guy who has not had a recent STD/HIV test.
While this CDC report is good news in many ways, it’s still very important to know your whole STD status as there are treatment-resistant strains of gonorrhea and chlamydia… and not just rectal/anal; these grow nicely in your oral cavity, too.
That’s great news but I wish guys would stop throwing “undetectable” around like that’s incentive to fuck them raw. I’m convinced most of them aren’t anyway.
Just wrap it up. Most guys cheat.
What if it’s just a ploy to infect more people, particular black men. That’s why they created it anyway. But it got out of their control and the proton molecule affected all races. Sorry, but this is not a racial comment but facts. Since they know “most gay men” will have sex without condoms anyway. My question is: Why would they announce this now. When in the past, they said two undetectable (positive men) create different strains of the virus.
PS. I heard they were evil anyway. And that they are responsible for the dis easements.
Oh my gosh..so uningormed. “Created” a vrus..not even possible. “Proton molecule”? By definition a molecule consists of a nucleus protons and electrons. If you manipulate a proton you change the molecule. Chemically your statement makes no sense.
Also any disease attributed to any race is genetic and currently there is no virus capable of being racially discriminatory
Gilead must’ve bought off some Frump-selected staffers. What a bunch of horseshit
When is the community going to wake the hell up about this HIV epidemic this is a global genetic experiment it has already been proven that HIV doesn’t cause AIDS which HIV is found in a lot of bodies as dormant and harmless
GTFOH! Poz Is Poz. Take The “Meow” From a Cat And It’s Still a Cat. Big Pharma, Develop a Real Cure And Quit Pimping Edible Bandages In a Bottle to Increase Your Bottom line!
No mentioning of being re-infected by one of the unknown percentage? How about different or mutated strands of the virus? Being undetectable is a an achievement. Why would you stop protecting yourself?
(especially after reading some of the profile messages on most sex-sites.)
Be safe y’all!
Have been undetectable for roughly 15 years and poz for 25 years. I have had several sexual partners in that time but never disclosed my status and always played safe. Luckily never had an oops moment. I did disclose twice but it was way worse than I imagined. Because I am undetectable and on ART I still feel that I really don’t need to disclose. What do you guys think?
That is something only you can answer. Knowing you can’t infect someone is a good rationale for non disclosure. Knowing the attitudes and beliefs of the majority find this rationale deceitful is an argument for disclosure.
So does that make us “Prep” now?
When all the members of the CDC have unprotected sex with those that are HIV+ and “undetectable”, and they remain negative, I may believe it. Their statement states that people “have effectively no risk”. They do not say “no risk” or “100% no risk” or the word “cured”…they use the ambiguous word “effectively”.
Until there is a cure I will remain cautious in my sexual activity. My health is my responsibility and I try my best to be as healthy as I possibly can. I also work in healthcare in a major medical hospital and yes…people are still dying from HIV/AIDS complications today. When was the last time that anyone looked at the potential side affect listing of PREP or the multitude of other HIV drugs? Scary stuff people. Don’t be a “sheep” and think for yourselves. Caveat emptor.
This is great news for gay people that is HIV (+) and have undetectable viral load. Now changing the minds of fellows in LGBTQ community is the next challenge. It’s high time to burry the stigma of this infection.
We still don’t know how effective this ART is for any single person. The data is based off of cohort data and all you need is that one one the drug isn’t as effective. And how do you know your viral load is low unless you test each and every time before sex. It’s still way to risky and until i see a damn cure people should play it as safe as possible.
I’ve heard this to be only 97% chance not to be transmitted but the virus is still living inside you and if you catch an STD, the “undetectable” status goes out the window because you can get it through an STD. Therefore my conclusion is wear a condom and don’t feed into the B.S. they’re telling you that you can’t catch it. I think it’s just a way for them to say “go ahead” and make us $,$$$,$$$,$$$ which only benefits them and not the community.
So, if you’re going to bareback, the safest guy to do it with, from an HIV perspective, is a guy who knows he’s poz and is undetectable. The guy who was neg last time he tested may be poz now and not know yet.
I have been wondering in recent years if, in my case anyway, the virus might have mutated into a longevity virus. I was told I was HIV+ in May 1988. The first ten years were hard. Then I realized I had survived. I am now seventy years old. Not only am I very healthy with a few predictable chronic issues, I have started taking natural supplements that have strengthened the libido aspects of life to the point where I can proudly walk around with a boner. I am going to live well past 100 years of life and eventually die of old age as my doctor once advised. I think that undetectable men ought to willingly contribute samples for research. It’s a darn shame that our viruses weren’t genomed [not sure what verb would have worked for the idea of gene tested] early on. I have clearly rambled well beyond any clear point. Positive I am.
This should be shouted from the rooftops.
I was diagnosed with HIV back in Nov. 2002. A month later, I found out it was full blown AIDS. Through many cocktails of medicines with varying side effects to now one pill a day, I’ve been undetectable for over 10 years. The ART medicines do work, technically a cure. Those taking PrEP experience the same immunity to the virus. As for having unprotected sex, to each his own. I prefer it natural, though other STDs could be spread. I actually feel liberated having been diagnosed. The worst happened, I’m still here, healthier than ever. I don’t have to fear “catching it”. If more people would get tested & treated is needed, we could really stop the spread of this virus. So know your status, take your meds, use protection if you prefer.
I’m HIV undetectable and have been for 3.5 yrs now. Healthier now than I was 4-5 yrs ago! The stigma is still out there and lots of education is needed. Surprising how many don’t educate themselves about undetectable status and the do’s and don’ts. I have come across more married straight/bi guys than gay guys that understand it and play safe. I don’t get it.
That’s because bi guys have a LOT more to lose, as a rule, not to mention the “biphobia” they deal with daily from the “gay community” on the regular. It’s hardly the fun lifestyle the dizzy queens paint it to be.
This information doesn’t change how I approach sex. There are other STD’s and most are much easier to transmit including some that are fatal. Safe or safer sex should be our default position even if we don’t succeed.
Stigma still strongly present against HIV person. Look at the life insurance company. The life insurance company bluntly printed in their proposal HIV diagnose will be denied regardless of their HIV status. Law must be changed, after all look at Magic Jonson still alive and performs
Totally agree with you, Rano. Life insurance companies discriminate against HIV poz people. Good luck trying to get a term or whole life insurance policy….denied. I found out I was HIV poz from a mandatory health screen applying for new term life insurance. What’s most disturbing, is the insurance company contacted my local Health Dept. instead of contacting me first that I was HIV poz. I then received a phone call out of the blue from the local health dept informing me that I was poz and that I was to get tested by them to reassure of my HIV status. Insurance laws must be changed.
I could have told anyone that but had no scientific proof. Been with my partner for six years he is negative and gets tested every six months. I still undetectable and we only used a condum on the first night when I told him. We haven’t used any since
This is wonderful news. Now guys that are poz and undetectable can get more dates. I know a few. They are very healthy. They get completely checked out by highly qualified Doctors twice a year. They are gym rats and sexy as hell. Lol. Their self esteem has been off the chart since the talk of poz guys that are undetectable being safe. Hope alot of negative guys hear this message. Poz guys are smart enough to know they still must practice safe sex because of everything else out there. Great day for my poz brothers!!!!
Thanks Matt!
I saw an ad posted the other day of a guy calling himself a bug chaser. He is wanting to be infected with HIV. He should just lie and say he is POZ, Also he needs to get a life and research just what he is asking for. Once you get it there is no going back when the road gets tough, Financially, emotionally, relationships, …..
As a healthcare professional, I see this often. For our brothers facing family issues, stigma and poverty; catching that bug often opens the door to benefits like Medicaid, subsidized housing and perhaps SSI or other financial assistance. Social workers and counselors, peer support comes like magic after an HIV diagnosis. For someone at the end of the rope, this looks like a good deal.
Thanks to the big Pharma ads, everyone taking antiretrovirals looks so damn sexy, carefree and well, happier than some poor guy who seeks an incurable infection as a key to a better life. If you can, give generously to organizations that help, volunteer to help younger people who just don’t know and understand the awful circumstances some of these guys are in.
Count me in the not good enough boat. How many days of missing treatment before viral load passes some level that chance of transmission is significant? Was there a statistically significant sample of partners across both age and health? And the very sad thing about this study is it will just lead to more barebacking by those using PReP.
Prep and now this…. they can’t eliminate us fast enough!
The problem with this is that undetectable can change. He may have been undetectable last month, that doesnt mean he cant give you hiv right now. And if you are “undetectable” you still have the responsibility to share this as “i am hiv positive” to any sexual partners you have. You should assume that everyone you have sex with is hiv positive and transmittable (dont rely on someones memory of when their last test was, how many sexual activities they have had since, and if they have taken their medication as prescribed). The more alcohol and drugs they consume will reduce the reliability of that anyway. Being a bug chaser makes absolutely no sense… its makes as much sense as someone eating as much cake as possible in order to get diabetes. Ohhh look at how hot this is, im going to need to take medicine for the rest of my life.
Please take this ‘news’ with a big grain of salt. It’s from Washington, where everything is political.
Note the weasel word ‘effectively’, and the conditions applied to the statement. How would anyone know if they’re undetectable today if the last blood test was 11 days ago?
This is good news though, for people who don’t want to get HIV, the more undetectable people out there means less risk for everyone. Note that PREP and being undetectable do nothing for syphilis, gonorrhea or herpes. Our antibiotics don’t work as well as they used to, the bugs are getting resistant these days. Everyone needs to evaluate their own personal risk and act accordingly with condoms and other behaviors like no needle sharing.
The CDC has been at the forefront of many advances, they’ve also made some spectacular mistakes. It’s really about staying negative for people who are, and reassuring your dates and partners by being undetectable if your poz. We can now just breathe a little easier and go out there and have fun!
Story is FAKE NEWS. The dumber ones out there are already taking “UD” loads because of this bullshit! Gilead is in a major cash flow crunch because their $1K/dose HCV cure, Harvoni, is selling WAY below Gilead’s projections, driving their stock price down. What to do…AHA! We’ll get our friends that Frump’s whipping boy Tom Price (who decided to quit the day the “report” was signed off on) installed at the CDC to declare that our obsolete Truvada shit, which itself is now facing generic competition, to be a “cure,” those fags will be fucking each other like it was 1979, infection rates will skyrocket, and we’ll make half a trillion! Don’t think so? Ask my friend, the pharma rep, who got pozzed up by a guy on Truvada who was “undetectable.” Lotsa luck with that, dimwits.
The responses are above all disappointing. Half-truths, untruths, prejudice, and plain ignorance. You’d think in this day of Dr. Goggle and accurate sites that sexually active men would be so uninformed and just down right dangerous to themselves and others. This is no conspiracy, no plot to infect the entire gay world, not price gouging or intent to drive up drug company profits. It is outstanding medical science. Not a cure by any means, nor a vaccine.
This CDC statement is long in coming after countless other statements from Europe and Asia. A simple statement of fact: ART compliant HIV positive persons have a viral load so low as to be unable to transmit the virus to an “unprotected” and uninfected partners. PrEP has only a slightly higher rate of infection. I was initially opposed to PrEP because it made no sense to take an HIV med to prevent infection. But the more I read, studied, and reflected I came to the inescapable conclusion that PrEP prevents HIV infections. Tens of 1000’s will be protected against HIV infection while on PrEP. For any one to say this isn’t a good result, it simply delusional.
Some PrEP men are barebacking whores. That’s their decision. PrEP affords no protection against other STD’s, herpes, hepatitis, etc. But with the exception of two clinically proven instances of sero conversion, PrEP like ART actually works.
I was the first to respond and drew to my way of thinking a negative comment. Use undetectable instead of poz. Actually the term of art is fully suppressed or u + u (undetectable and “untransmitable”). ART persons don’t miss doses. Their lives depend on it as do their unprotected partners. My partner of many years is HIV poz for 30+ years and he is fully compliant and he didn’t give my HIV.
Referring to sexually transmitted diseases as bugs it simply offensive. Crabs are bugs.
“ART compliant HIV positive persons have a viral load so low as to be unable to transmit the virus to an “unprotected” and uninfected partners.”
Any number greater than 0 viral load implies some risk, however small, of transmission to an uninfected partner. What you, CDC and others are saying is that those of us who are known HIV- should now be accepting of a risk level defined by you, rather than us.
I would add, anecdotally, that many of the profiles with the highest STD risk behaviors I read on A4A, Scruff, etc, are those who are ‘undectectable.’
“ART persons don’t miss doses. Their lives depend on it as do their unprotected partners.” So nobody taking ART ever misses a dose? or two, three or more? Never insurance problems? Financial problems? Psychological problems? On vacation and just forgot? ART is no different than any other treatment for serious medical condition. Most people will follow instructions religously. Some will not, for any number of reasons, or none at all. Again, why exactly are HIV- persons suppose to gamble upon this?
Sex with anybody entails risks. It is up to you to find out as much as you can about your partner’s behavior and medical condition (related to STDs) and then assess based upon your personal risk tolerances whether to have relations and what kind.
All you “condoms always” guys are aware, aren’t you, that condoms have a 3% failure rate? Even with the best of circumstances? and that condomless sex with an undetectable guy is so low risk that there’s really no discernible difference from zero risk? I had one HIV doc tell me I’d be more likely to get struck by lightning while reading his post!
Plus it has been known for years that oral sex has a much lower transmission rate than condom failure rate if that much. and that’s usually because of bleeding gums in the sucker’s mouth. The fact is that you’re much safer with a poz undetectable guy (even without a condom) than you are wearing a condom.
and if, like my roommate from college, you “only have sex with guys who are neg”? Just remember, most cases of HIV only test positive 6 months after infection. IOW, there’s a 6 month window where the guy can truthfully say, “I tested negative” but still be poz. I could be negative and test as such today, but get infected tomorrow and I wouldn’t know for another 6 months. Anyone I have sex with in that 6-month window is at high risk. That first 6 months is one of the most infectious periods.
Wow, THIS got a lot of guys talking! I am so glad to see an OPEN DIALOGUE here, especially to read MIKE’s comment on 1 October, 2017 at 07:58 in REPLY to FRANCIS ASISSY.
As I have stated for a long time in these blogs, we should act as brothers, it is my duty to stand with my community, it is also my duty to call out when we put down OUR community, or when our opinions become homophobic (yes, we can fear THAT which IS us). As many have stated, by chance some have avoided HIV, many here talk as if they are SPECIAL because that one time they went bare, or because they were living in some little town avoided a lifelong issue, they are better than anyone else. HIV wasn’t a GAY issue, until it BECAME one in the 1980s, and sadly in the minds of many, it will always BE THIS COMMUNITY’s ISSUE, as intravenous drug users in the 1980s seem no where to be found! Perhaps we can come to an agreement on this idea, and know that ALL HUMANS incur risk, and men who have sex with men, WITH or WITHOUT protection have incurred increased RISKS, and this is a fact of life, simply living incurs RISK! ALL of us ALIVE TODAY are the LUCKY ONES. So, that said, what will we do to keep our community HEALTHY? UNDETECTABLE refers to HIV, there are 30 some OTHER sexually transmissible diseases out there, so for me I WILL continue to use condoms, and I will try to lessen my odds of endangering my sexual health. I will not stand in judgment of my brothers, as I am blessed to have survived all my choices! As for my positive brothers, I stand with you in your right to choose that which is best for you, and hope that WE will build bridges and not walls! Being able to share and talk HERE is a good step on our journey … wishing you ALL Peace and Wisdom in this Winter Season!