Expert: Terry B - 6/13/2007

Question
Iam a man in a relationship with a hiv  girl. We have been having protected second for 2 years - I get tested regularly and is still hiv-.2 days ago we had anal sex and the condom broke.SHortly before we had vaginal sex with same condom but she was fairly dry. Shortly after the condom broke I retreated and thoroughly washed my penis with soap and water.My girlfriend has been on Trioimmune ART for 4 months, her cd4 is 850 and viral load is very low.Some doctors thinks she should not have started ART so early.IAm also now taking Trioimmune as PEP treatment. What do you think is the probability of me contracting the virus?

Answer
Dear Frans:

Peace and all good things to you.  Some factors you cite regarding reducing transmission risk are significant - wearing the condom during vaginal sex, withdrawing immediately and washing, and her low viral load.  This suggests that your exposure to her blood/vaginal secretions was small, for short duration, and the concentration of HIV in her fluids is relatively low.  All these work in your favor.  Your addition of post-exposure prophylaxis should be done under a prescriber's care, however - using the same medication your partner is taking may not be the most effective prescription (that is, if she has some resistance to that medication developing, it would be passed on to you if you were infected).

Hope this helps, best to you and your partner.

Terry