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:
- to protect sex partners against infection
- to protect yourself against re-infection with another strain of the virus
- 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.