What about sex now?

To be HIV positive does not mean that this is the end of your sex life. Sex forms a very important part of one’s psychological health and well-being - as it is nurturing, relaxing and stress-relieving. It is, however, extremely important for the HIV positive person to always practice safer sex (i.e. to use a condom every time he or she has sexual intercourse.) The reasons why an HIV positive person should always use a condom during sexual intercourse are three fold:

1. to protect sex partners against infection
2. to protect yourself against re-infection with another strain of the virus
3. to protect your immune system. Sex with an HIV positive partner can increase your viral load.

It is therefore important never to have unprotected sex (without a condom) if you are HIV positive - even if your sex partner is also HIV positive.