HIV: Study Shows Health Effects Of Low Viral Load
Since last year, it has become more and more accepted that “Undetectable=Untransmittable”. But where does that leave the people who have a low viral load, just shy of becoming undetectable? A new study may have the answer to that question.
The study, entitled “Low-Level Viremia Is Associated With Clinical Progression in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment”, was published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It involved 5986 patients and concluded that for patients with a low viral load — at least two consecutive viral loads in the range of 50 – 199 copies/mL for at least one month, with no viral loads over 199 copies — clinical results were similar to people who remained undetectable.
For instance, none of the participants with low-level viremia — the presence of virus in the blood — experienced an AIDS-related condition or died after five years of follow-up. Only three percent of the patients with low-level viremia experienced virological failure, which means HIV medications have stopped working against HIV.
Patients with mid-level viremia — at least two consecutive viral loads between 50 and 499 copies/mL for at least one month, with at least one viral load between 200 and 499 copies — had a higher risk of death or AIDS events compared to those with low-level viremia. People with mid-level viremia also had a higher risk of virological failure,
Another thing that the study discovered was the efficacy of today’s modern antiretroviral treatment. Most people who achieved an undetectable viral load within three to nine months of starting antiretroviral treatment remained undetectable through the follow-up period.
What do you guys think of the results of this new study? Do you find it encouraging that even people with a low viral load have similar clinical results with people who are undetectable? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
There is no excuse for anyone under the age of 55 to have HIV, period. And you must never engage in anything that would give you it, and you must never do anything to promote such behavior. The drugs could stop working. HIV is still in your body. The studies can be wrong. A new STD could appear that’s even worse than HIV, and it will as long as gay men go on being stupidly promiscuous and dangerous.
Non sense to the previous comment, I just think it’s interesting to know that even years of research and we are still getting it wrong, studies are studies its down to the individual to live a balanced healthy lifestyle as we are told to by doctors.
I hear what you’re saying, loud and clear. To take the conversation to the next level, while some guys do know their current HIV status, they don’t know their Hep C status, or other STI’s. And how about HPV (anal warts)… SOOOO many guys have them, and are quite easy to touch/feel as they can be both external (on your anus) and internal (inside your hole.) These can be removed, but the first step is admitting you have a serious issue that you can’t see. Take the time to share this with your Dr — it’s not their first anal wart rodeo. Get checked, get treated.
I agree with you Alex. Some folks both men & women may think their anal warts are actually hemorrhoids! Get yourself tested and treated for all STDs, HIV, All versions of Hepatitis.
Do it for yourself and others…it’s the right thing to do.
Have a great week Men.
*yawn* Thanks for the sermon. I have no doubt it’s going to help just so many people out there.
Grow up, stop judging and be more responsible (or educated?) than making a statement so ridiculous as “There is no excuse for anyone under the age of 55 to have HIV, period.” I can think of a half dozen ways off the top of my head how a responsible person, through no fault of their own, could catch the virus [rape, prophylactic failure (pharmacological (PrEP) or physical barrier (condom) failure, take your pick), occupational exposure…etc etc etc].
You’re entitled to your beliefs, and I respect that. You’re even entitled to post your uneducated personal opinions as if they were facts, and I respect that too. Luckily others have the right to call you out for being grossly inaccurate, because my friend, your opinions are your own, and contrary to how you articulated them, they are not fact, nor are they based in reality. Cheers.
My sentiments exactly!
Luigi, you do realize that rape exists right? Also, condoms break, people lie about their status. Saying there is no excuse for someone under the age of 55 to have HIV is dismissing actions outside of an individual’s control.
Please shut up. Your ignorance is shining through.
I agree 100%.
Just saw a profile pf a 21 year old in my area with HIV. Im like are you serious. With all the commercials and campaigns this new generation should not be getting this nearly 40 old virus. It’s just dumb and makes absolutely no sense to me.
Almost as dumb as your response right? But we don’t see you understanding it either so cheers!
I couldn’t agree more. It’s up to each individual, to control themselves in the heat of the moment. I’m still, astounded about what I read on here awhile back about the young man who “contracted gonorrhea from receiving a bj!” So what does that say for something as
menial as, yet romantic as kissing? That’s about as far as ‘we’ go on a first date with someone
where we’re ‘mutually’ attracted to each other.
I would like to say in regards to your response you sound very arrogant and almost feel educated about this do you realize there are so many people out there that think they’re engaging and just different types of sucks that doesn’t have to be anal and yet you can catch this disease you can still get it from kissing if there’s any open sores and it cuts that are present where there’s Knouff of the virus that could get in to somebody your response is arrogant and it’s absolutely horrendous making such a bold statement about somebody being only over the age of 55 to get and have become infected with HIV
you’re not looking at people around the world that one time you’re young and experimentally having oral Sex anal sex for the first time .
Or maybe just the wrong person you kiss who is + and has open mouth sore/ cut , oral sex , or that one time you have Sex and a condom might slip or break ….
But then let’s not forget all of these gay men that are positive there’s couples one or other or both is in the engaging open group sex orgies PNP where your lack of judgement but then let’s not forget all of these gay mem who don’t care who are out to get off no matter the cost
That’s where gay men Esp DONT AND HAVE NOT accepted their HUGE RESPONSIBILITY – They want sex – Not to curb their behavior Sexually , quit getting around to multiple partners thinking you can have Sex like your living pre-1980s b4 HIV CHANGED THE RULES
Sex is risky every time you have it and if have it – YOURE AT RISK SORRY GUYS YOU XANT DOGDE THAT BULLET THINKING VARIRTY IS THE SOUCE OF LIFE ANYMORE!!!
and it’s not just about HIV but it can ruin ones life just after a first time … like no other and even can take it fatally
Plus THERES a HUGE rise over the past couple of years amongst STDs/ STIs And let’s just be honest guys don’t wrap it up ,they want the feel of raw sex , but this is why people get infections PERIOD ,
SO ——SORRY
TO YOUR VERY ARROGANT STATEMENT BUT SOMETIMES IN MANY CASES
OTHERS MAKE A CHOICE NOT TO DISCLOSE B4 we do something with them sexually who are +
– That changes our lives forever PERIOD!
Well, thank you, Luigi, for your sanctimonious comment! There also is no excuse for domestic abuse, child endangerment, bank robbery, and a laundry list of other “inexcusable” activities, but guess what? The world is literally FULL of people who are not PERFECT. Every last one of us screws up at one time or other. Perhaps we all should strive to be as PERFECT as you seem to be!
Right on!
Well, i don’t think there’s such thing as “no excuse” for people under 55 to not being positive. A friend of mine was intentionally infected but a guy who without permission removed the condom. Another guy that I know always played safe and he got infected anyway, and I also know a girl who was born with the virus because of her mom. So is not about “excuses”. However, there’s no excuse to not use a condom if you’re not in a committed relationship. The big problem is that American society (and maybe most western societies) want to fix or solve everything with a pill. Eg, eannakiose weight, take a pill. Wanna eat anything and don’t get heartburn, take a pill, ands so on. We just want to indulge and then expect a pill to fix the consequences. Unfortunately most gays take this kind of information as a permission to fuck bareback. How come people wanna fuck raw when they don’t even know how manySTD’s are out there?
For all the people offended by Luigi’s comment:
I understand why you’re offended, particularly if you’re under 55 and infected with HIV. I think we all wish you well; it’s something that no one deserves. But I also think Luigi makes a valuable, very progressive observation of something that isn’t really being addressed in gay culture — something that might help future generations.
Right now, I see a lot of furtive, “down low”, “str8-acting”, “masculine” men go hog wild crazy behind closed doors, while giving no indication of being gay in public. I think that’s actually contributing to the spread of STI’s. Wild, uninhibited, promiscuous sex isn’t sexual liberation. It’s reaction to sexual oppression. This isn’t really natural or healthy behavior. It’s setting up an artificial and extreme binary, one where transactional sex is at the core of gay sexual interaction.
Think of how you’d behave naturally if you didn’t have to react to years of repression and homophobia. What form would sex take? Maybe you’d do more comparos of who has the best cock while you’re showering at the gym. Or who can pee the farthest? Maybe more putting your arm around another guy’s shoulder? Shame creates anger, and anger can lead to more extreme behavior in response to oppression, including riskier who-gives-a-fuck sexual behavior. The sad thing is that this reactive behavior is actually damaging to the self.
Gay sexual behavior should be acceptable both in public and ‘behind closed doors’ and doesn’t need to be as binary as it is now. It should be subject to the same standards as heterosexual behavior, with more emphasis on open hand holding, courting, flirting, cuddling, caressing, and affection. Men should be able to whistle at each other on the street. The only way to change culture is to keep pushing, in tiny baby steps.
There are many forms of sexual behavior that are much safer than unprotected anal intercourse. Most of the HIV positive men I know contracted it through anal intercourse. I’m of the opinion that men should be able to walk into any public restroom and trade hand jobs with other males, or show off and jack off on their own. Urinals should go back to being trough style, with mirrors placed in front of the urinal. Every restroom should have glory holes between the stalls. (And pre-pubescent boys should be going to single stall ‘family’ restrooms or into women’s restrooms with their mothers, with only men using the men’s restrooms.) Interestingly, this viewpoint is regarded as “extreme” and “unacceptable” but unprotected anal intercourse – which is demonstrably dangerous, contributing to HIV and Hepatitis transmission, as well as increasing risks of anal cancer – is regarded as normal and perfectly acceptable.
Jacking off and trading hand jobs in public restrooms would accomplish a number of things: First, it fulfills several needs safely, including allowing for a little excitement and happiness in life. Look at the increasing rates of misery, isolation and suicide in American culture, particularly in male gay American culture. Restroom handjobs allow for quick, non-committal connection and pleasure with a variety of partners. It provides a relief of sexual tension, without risks of transmitting HIV or Hepatitis. Variety is the spice of life: Imagine being able to touch multiple different penises a day. Even straight men are horny, and probably wouldn’t mind showing off their nice equipment. Restroom sex is instant and consistent. Imagine if getting off were as easy as going to urinate. No hunting around; no trying to impress others. Just trade hand jobs at the urinal with the guy next to you, or just show your dick off on your own. Consistent relief of low level sexual tension in such a manner would be sufficiently satisfying for a majority of men, and would allow them to stick to safer sex practices. When behavior has to be repressed, and tension becomes all pent up, men decide that their sexual experiences have to be “amazing” since they so rarely and unpredictably have sex, leading to unsafe, furtive, but extreme behaviors that put one at risk for HIV.
No excuse? You’re a dick and probably an immature early-20-something with little experience. Quit shaming people. You never know when you’ll be next.
Luigi,
Shut up.
-Someone under 55 infected by “monogamous” partner.
yeah those lose fags out there that will fuck suck anything and to hell with the life of others out for a “good time”….
I have been undecteable for a decade. Yes, to the post there is no excuse for people under 55, except they are people. I once fit the parameters, it still happened. At great cost. One has to decide, once tested and confirmed, to stay that way. Question is, how do we get more people testing? Had I been, early enough, my world would be different. The high horse, is usually not the best route anywhere.
Luigi sucks.
Life is infinitely more complicated than your narrow-minded view, kid.
@LUIGINONONO: *yawn* Thanks for the sermon. I have no doubt it’s going to help just so many people out there.
Grow up, stop judging and be more responsible (or educated?) than making a statement so ridiculous as “There is no excuse for anyone under the age of 55 to have HIV, period.” I can think of a half dozen ways off the top of my head how a responsible person, through no fault of their own, could catch the virus [rape, prophylactic failure (pharmacological (PrEP) or physical barrier (condom) failure, take your pick), occupational exposure…etc etc etc].
You’re entitled to your beliefs, and I respect that. You’re even entitled to post your uneducated personal opinions as if they were facts, and I respect that too. Luckily others have the right to call you out for being grossly inaccurate, because my friend, your opinions are your own, and contrary to how you articulated them, they are not fact, nor are they based in reality. Cheers.
Just another skewed paper aimed at creating more HIV cases that wind up being captives of Big Pharma on the taxpayer’s dime.
There’s no excuse for judgemental internet trolls like you, yet here we are. My favorite part of your comment is where you stated the obvious facts that we all know and all have been told. Just so you know the article states that the drugs do stop working, not could stop working. I’m sure all the gay men under 55 with hiv wish you had posted your idiotic rhetoric before they purposely contracted an STI. Luigi if only you had posted your misinformed rant earlier we could have stopped this whole crisis. I really blame lack of education, specifically yours
so evil
Why do studies and websites like continue to promote prep and suggest undetectable = untransmittable. The fact of the matter is PREP is NOT 100% effective. Just that 1% is all you need to contract the virus. Also, other STDs exist that could be detrimental to ones health long term. Stop pushing this BS agenda that it’s okay – it isn’t.
How old is syphilis? Gonorrhea? Herpes? Hepatitis?
Very old, older than HIV.
And we still we these in the. Community?
OMG, so the time we know about something actually had little bearing on how society in general behaves?
That’s absolutely right.
Manny is 100% right. Prep isn’t 100% effective. How many in prep take their pills faithfully?
Safe sex practice is the best way to prevent spreading HIV and STD’s from spreading among gay men and in the general population. Even if you’re a low viral HIV individual always be safe because recently there has been a rise in STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) such Gonorrhea and Syphilis. If caught early they are both treatable, however they can go undetected, especially Syphilis and the effects can be devastating, long lasting and life threatening. So caution is the work for the day, practice safe sex always.
Other STD’s that can be harmful and have longterm consequences are Herpes (congenital warts), and Hepatitis.
BE SAFE!!!
”There is no excuse for anyone under the age of 55 to have HIV, period.”
Well, y’know, someone could contract HIV by being raped.
But in any case, you live in a very simplistic world if you feel able to make statements like the one above. People are complex, sex and relationships are complex and glib comments like yours are about as useful as a chocolate tea pot.
But carry on spreading your fear and stigma if it makes YOU feel better.
Luigi…fuck off…seriously ur as bad as a trump troll…all emotion no fact
It is a good out look on this horrible disease that had and has taken so many esp young lives , hopefully it can be eradicated removed and cured of its vengeance it’s had on Esp the LGBQ people , it’s ruined many lives and it has taken way to many if not F*d them up
“it has become more and more accepted that ‘Undetectable=Untransmittable’…”
Based on comments on A4A the last time this topic was brought up, sure a small number of posters felt that way, but most would not agree that “undectable’ in any way meant HIV was not a risk when having sex with a person who is “undectable”. Unprotected sex is still unsafe. Not only when it comes HIV, but for the myriad of STDs that can be shared.
Nobody said the contrary dear! And it’s undetectable.
Saying that HIV undetectable is safe, doesn’t mean that I suggest to fuck without condom, far from that.
Let me write something about it.
Except you did. What else would “undetectable=safe” suggest? The cold truth is that many undetectable men really don’t care about the safety of their partner. Being undetectable is a convenient way for them to stay alive–while also trying to guilt others into having raw sex with them.
Yes, please write something explaining what A4A members should understand when someone says they are undetectable.
That wasn’t even the question. No one asked you to preach and furthermore people with hiv that came to read this article don’t give a fuck about your opinion. Know your context ho.
Fuck your attitudes. There was always safer sex. Truth is truth, and HIV is old news. There are worse diseases affecting the gay community, study and talk about them for a change.
There are so many people out to blame the person that gave them HI V . But the blame is also on the person who contracted it. People lie FACT. The only way to know is to stop sleeping around and get tested and keep your results handy
And If he doesn’t have paper
Then tell him to skip off to the clinic. And at best with test results there is still the guy he slept with last week when he picked up his results. Do what ever you need to do as to not contract HIV. One never knows does one ?
I just have a question. So undetectable is untransmitable, ok. However, virus is not irradicated and still in the body even while a person on antiviral meds. So my question does the virus mutate? We have antibiotic resistant bacteria. Can surviving hiv mutate to resistant one? Is there any research on that?
First, I find it highly irresponsible for this sight to have a non clinician interpreting medical studies and reporting on them in a way that some might interpret to be medical advice. ,
Second, you open the post with a paragraph framing this study in regards to transmission, which is clearly not the case. This study was simply looking at clinical outcomes of patients with regard to viral load and the rate at which patients experience retroviral treatment failure.
Third, your response to Hunter0500 was clearly a kneejerk response and not easily understood.
Bottom line: I hate to say it, but, it seems to be REALLY SAFE, at least from the most severe, HIV; would have to be a more ‘external’ type of sexual-gratification, which amounts to sorts of
frottage.
However, I don’t think that’s possible for the vast majority of gay males; being so “wired” for the type/s of sex they’ve been having, its a sacrifice, they cannot make or adjust to. It’s about really “bad habits dying a hard death,” all this ‘very’ promiscuous behavior involving: anal-oral sex = not good practice any longer, they’ve chosen to risk it, “raw” not using a rubber for better sex.
Case in point, HIV has been with us since the earliest of the 80’s, in spite of ALL of the info., people are still being infected with HIV, most notably in the Southern States as of late.
Men since the beginning, has always enjoyed a double standard of having all the sex you want
you’re a man right, so that comes with bragging rights, women, who would do so, were the sluts-ho’s and caring the bullet “Prego.”
It’s a new world, and too many people are just, not, keeping up, making the necessary adjustments. But, how can someone relearn sex as they’ve learned to have it, to curb or retailor
their carnal desires, as people are indeed, creatures of habit, don’t like change. This above all, is the biggest problem, not to mention; love-relationships of monogamy-trust-devotion are largely dead, its all about getting, its just consumerism on another really wicked level as it turns out.
And, you can see where that’s gotten us, surely, you can see-feel the impact/pain of that, your mothers-fathers, family members and very close friends do. These are the lessons too many are turning away from, for pure selfishness of immediate gratification. If, that’s all you’re about, then try other things and save ‘each other’s’ health at least, you either use a glove or masturbate/frottage each other, as long as you’re going to be ‘that’ promiscuous.
If, I were a doctor, its what I would actually suggest to my gay patients coming in with
the other various std’s that they do, so that you, don’t, get infected with HIV.
Except you did. What else would “undetectable=safe” suggest? The cold truth is that many undetectable men really don’t care about the safety of their partner. Being undetectable is a convenient way for them to stay alive–while also trying to guilt others into having raw sex with them.
I think this study will open up new ways to potential treat people with a low viral load. I also think it will remind people that there is still a risk in transmission of HIV when the viral load is low. It also good for people to know that when there is no viral load, there is very little risk of infection with HIV. I wouldn’t be surprised that HIV infections will be put into categories for treatment: no viral load, low viral and high viral load. This would be like how diabetes is treated: type 1 and type 2, both don’t necessarily require the same way of treatment.
I don’t feel that we should judge and say that with all the new knowledge that a person under 50 should never get infected with HIV. For thousands of years people have known how a woman gets pregnant, yet there are still unwanted pregnancies for various reasons. A load of knowledge doesn’t always mean 100% prevention.
I got my HIV thru a blood transfusion in 1995. It was no fault of my own. Back then the test was not as sensitive as it is today. So, Luigi, I got my HIV at 28.
Since HIV Assays do not detect HIV nor any component of the HIV Genome In Human blood or Serum..
How do we know that people “Have HIV” ?
“Have Ever had HIV”?
have a “Retrovirus Load”?
Since Viral Load measures the so called “amount of virus” playing hide n seek in the circulatory system and lymph tissues in the human body why is HIV Testing such a global fashion show and not just use only Viral Load testing since it is allegedly the most accurate test?
While these questions should be answered honestly, many will find it blasphemous and chaulk it off as crazy but the vast medical literature and the FDA Literature on all HIV Assays are readily available to everyone, For Free. One more question would be about the non specificity of HIV Testing regarding CD4 counts..Flow Cytometry has also been shown to be flawed in contradiction to other studies. Why do we measure CD4 counts if the tests do not detect HIV in Human beings?