HIV question

[AngryAmish]

Assuming one has HIV, is it risky to have unprotected intercourse (or other body-fluid swapping activities) with another person who is HIV positive? I am under the impression that there are different strains of HIV with some more virulent than others? Am I right or wrong?

[PCIntern]

1. Do you feel lucky?

Do you want to become an incurable romantic?

Don't swap any bodily fluids without knowing the status of the owner

[SPKrazy]

2. Correct On All Counts

It isn't safe for 2 HIV infected persons to have unprotected sex because there are different strains, and addin more HIV puts more tax on the immune system

[PCIntern]

6. That's right...

and also understand that anecdotally, you are a sample of ONE. Statistics don't matter one whit if you're the exception...

You gots to be really careful...people are getting careless again.

I'm a clinician and am seeing this occur and it is most worrisome...

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. Yes, there are different strains and one could be infected with one that

they don't already have. And of course any other transmissible infections.

However if two HIV infected people were in a relationship, especially longer term, I'd think they'd have a frank discussion about risks of doing this before deciding whether to go sans protection or not.

[Katherine Brengle]

4. I've wondered this too -- different strains have...

different effects, so I think it is probably a bad idea.

[sheelz]

7. And more difficult to treat.

[rusty charly]

8. true

being infected with many strains can make medications less effective. or not work at all, and then you're stuck hunting through treatments to find one that lowers your viral load again.

[sheelz]

5. Yes, you're right.

Always protect yourself and others.

[Syncronaut Seven]

9. There is always herpes, tuberculosis and hep.

which are more likely to take hold and be transmitted by immune suppressed people.

[Warpy]

10. Correct, to a point, but there are no SAFE strains of HIV. They all

kill and anybody who engages in unprotected sex unless s/he is with a monogamous partner and both have tested negative for 6 months and are actively trying to conceive is playing Russian roulette with a very ugly disease.

I've watched too many people die from that disease. It's a miserable way to go and it's just not worth the risk. Wear that condom, insist your male partner wear a condom.

Hugging and shaking hands won't spread it, though.