Expert: Terry B - 1/20/2008

Question
IF PERSON GETS TRANSMITTED AN HIV 2 MONTHS BACK .CAN HE TRANSMIT SAME TO HIS WIFE DURING VAGINAL INTERCOURSE.HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES FOR VIRUS TO BE INFECTIVE AND CAUSE HARM TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.PL REPLY

Answer
Dear Sam:

Peace.  According to my latest review of studies (www.avert.org or www.cdc.gov), a person infected with HIV can transmit the virus at least as early as ten days from being infected, maybe sooner.  As a matter of fact, the period between initial infection and development of the body's response to the virus is one of highest risk, as the amount of virus in the fluids has not yet been suppressed.

Simply, when one becomes infected with HIV, the virus travels through the blood and lymph to seed itself in the very areas where the body produces its defenses.  In the period when the virus is reproducing unchecked, before being recognized and the body's first efforts to isolate and suppress the virus, viral load is highest.  The other time when viral load is extremely high is after the body's defenses have failed, at end of life.

I hope this provides you with the information you need to make an informed decision about seeing a trained health professional or counselor and asking what next steps to take with your situation.

I wish you the very best and hope you find good resolution for this situation.  If you are infected, it does not mean you have necessarily passed the infection on to another; one exposure does not always mean an infection.  The variables contributing to an exposure becoming an infection include route of transmission (in this case, vaginal intercourse, as contrasted to injection, for instance), number of exposures (frequency), and other factors, including the presence of other sexually transmitted infections - which increases risk.

Hope this helps, best to you and yours.

Terry