Semen and vaginal fluid

Several spermatozoa

If a man has HIV, one of his body fluids where the virus is found is his semen. During sex if his semen gets into the body of his sexual partner then that person could also get infected.

The clear fluid produced by a man’s penis when he is sexually excited ('pre-cum') can also have HIV in it. This is why there remains a risk of infection even if, during sex, a man pulls out of his partner before he ejaculates.

If a woman has HIV, one of her body fluids where the virus is found is in her vaginal secretions. During sex if these come into contact with man’s penis than HIV could be transmitted to him.

Using a condom correctly prevents contact with semen or vaginal secretions, stopping HIV from passed on.

If a man or woman are taking HIV medication, the amount of HIV in his semen or her vaginal secretions should fall a great deal, making these fluids potentially less infectious. But it is still possible for infections to happen even if someone is on HIV drugs and they have with a low or undetectable viral load. It would be wrong to think that unprotected sex with them is totally risk-free.

If a man with HIV gets a sexually transmitted infection there can also be a rise in the amount of HIV in his semen.

 

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2 comments

  • The information on this page is unbalanced, factually incorrect and old-fashioned.

    Condoms have a residual risk.

    Treatment as a matter of fact reduces the risk of transmission (typically by 96%, more than condoms at a population level), not potentially reduces it.

    A more equal and neutral treatment of the two prevention interventions would be more helpful. Either highlight the residual risk of condoms (and perhaps link to something on PEP) or be as bold about treatment as condoms.

    There are pros and cons to condoms and treatment as prevention technologies, it would be good to see them highlighted.

    Posted 19:27 Thu 15 Nov 2012 by newt
  • Hi newt

    Thanks for your comment. We are in the process of reviewing this page and will be updating it in due course.

    The web team

    Posted 15:58 Thu 22 Nov 2012 by thtstaff

The Information Standard: Certified member

This article was last reviewed on 4/12/2012 by T. Kelaart

Date due for the next review: 31/3/2013

Content Author: R. Scholey

Current Owner: Health promotion

More information:

NAM, Semen, Aidsmap, (2012)

Gus Cairns, Many men With undetectable HIV in their blood still have low levels in their semen, studies find. NAM, Aidsmap (2012)

NAM, Withdrawal and the risk from pre-cum, Aidsmap (2012)

NAM, Viral load in semen, vaginal fluid and rectal secretions, Aidsmap, (2012)

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