First Appeared on HIV Singles HIV can affect anyone regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, culture or race. HIV can take a while to display symptoms and develop into AIDS. This is the main reason why most people do not know they are infected. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids and sexual intercourse is one of the key methods of transmission. Since the symptoms do not show immediately after transmission, a single HIV carrier can infect a number of people without knowing it. People who engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners are at a greater risk. There are over 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States. Unfortunately, 1 in 8 people are unaware of their positive status. Gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with other men are at a higher risk of getting HIV. Medical science has not come up with a cure for HIV, but there are antiretroviral drugs that help suppress the symptoms and keep the virus inactive. A person living with HIV can have a normal and happy life. The secret is to follow the treatment plan and take all the prescribed medications. If you are living with HIV, you will find thousands of other HIV positive singles looking for a mate. Join Meetpositive.com and meet other interesting HIV positive singles.
Is it Possible to Date an HIV Negative When I’m HIV Positive?
The plain and simple answer is, yes.
But, you have to remember some important reminders before going sexual with your partner.
First off, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)is a virus that attacks the immune system. This disease weakens the body’s natural defense thus treatment is on making sure that the immune system gets back to its natural healthy state. The key is to make sure white blood cells (also called “leukocytes”) are given the chance to grow and multiply as they are the body’s best defense against disease.
It’s important to point out that HIV is not AIDS. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)is the last stage of an HIV infection. This is where the disease can go downhill and can lead to death. The good news is, before HIV progresses to AIDS, it takes 10-12 years before it gets to that point. During this time, the patient can go through several treatments and procedures to help the body restore back to its health.
Many studies have shown that as long as HIV-positive individuals take antiretroviral medications properly, they are significantly less likely to transmit the virus to a partner. Statistics-wise, in a course of 100 years, it was shown that only 3-4 percent of sexually active couples transmitted HIV to their partner during the course of antiretroviral medication therapy.
HIV can be transmitted via contact from infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids. It’s important to remember the following precautions:
1.Make sure your partner is safe for sexual intercourse.Even when a partner is HIV-positive, sexual intercourse can be possible when done at the right time.
Here are some things to keep watch that can give sex a go:
The HIV-positive partner’s HIV load has been undetectable for at least six consecutive months.
Neither partner has any other STIs. STIs other than HIV can speed up viral transfer.
2.Be protected during sexual intercourse.Use condoms and make sure they are the best out there in the market. Never use expired condoms.Do not compromise quality over price savings. Make sure, too, that your condoms are away from direct heat or sunlight as these can cause condoms to break up. Only use water-based or silicone-based lubes, and never use oil-based ones as they can cause condom breakage. Also, make sure you know how to insert condoms in the penis properly to avoid tearing of any form.
3.Do not share needles.You can easily get infected with HIV if you share drug or medicine needles with an infected person, so be wary of this.
4.Talk to your doctor when plans of having a baby come up. Unfortunately, HIV can be passed to a baby during pregnancy, at birth, or while breast-feeding. Prioritize your baby’s health because you don’t want your baby to suffer HIV and bring it with him/her as he/she grows up.
5.You can do normal couple things, too! HIV can only be spread through blood, semen or vaginal fluids. It cannot be spread via kissing, hugging, or sharing food and glasses.
It is possible to date as an HIV-positive, and regardless of where you are in the treatment process there are many options for you to meet people going through the same experience. Being “positive” does not have to be hindrance for your dating success. To find out more, check out Meet Positiveswhere you “never have ‘the talk’ again.”