Antiretroviral HIV medications help keep the amount of HIV in the bloodstream low. When the viral load is below a certain level, this is known as being undetectable. Having an undetectable viral load makes it unlikely to transmit HIV to others.
Experts still recommend wearing condoms during sex if you have new or multiple partners. That's because condoms can help protect against other sexually transmitted infections.
Stella A. Safo, MD, MPH, is an HIV primary care physician and assistant professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Am I legally required to share my HIV status with others?
Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Sex and sexuality and HIV: Entire lesson.
National Institute of Health Office of AIDS Research. (2021). HIV treatment adherence.
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