Sex with an HIV positive partner

If you and your partner are both HIV positive, you may not want to use condoms.

Even if you both have HIV, it is important to protect each other from STIs. STIs can be more difficult to treat in people with HIV, and the STI symptoms can be more severe. Some STIs can increase your viral load. Syphilis can progress to severe symptoms more rapidly and can be more difficult to treat. Genital warts and herpes can also be resistant to treatment. Herpes outbreaks may occur more often in people who are HIV positive. If you have herpes, you may want to discuss herpes suppression therapy with your doctor.