Viruses

HIV/AIDS • HIV & STIs • Genital herpes • Genital & anal warts • Hepatitis A • Hepatitis B • Hepatitis C • Molluscum contagiosum

HIV and STI Interactions

HIV Positive Men and STIs

If you are HIV positive there are some extra things you need to know about STIs. Some STIs may adversely affect HIV while HIV can make the treatment of some STIs more difficult. Having another STI may lead to an increase in your viral load. Your last test indicates what your viral load was at that time, not what it might be now and it only tests the amount of virus in the blood not the semen. An ‘undetectable’ HIV viral load only means that your viral load is lower than the current tests can measure. ‘Undetectable’ does not mean that the virus has left your body, or that you can’t pass on HIV during unprotected sex.

To reduce the impact of STIs on your health you can:

Get tested regularly, at least every year and more frequently if you are having a lot of sex;
Arrange for an STI test when you get your blood work done;
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B; and
Use condoms to reduce the chances of picking up STIs including gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.
Check out the individual STI Fact Sheets starting on page 13 to find out whether they have any specific impacts on HIV.

STIs and HIV Transmission

STIs have been shown to increase the likelihood of HIV being picked up or passed on.

If you’re HIV negative, STIs can cause the skin or membranes in your urethra (the tube in your dick), rectum (arse) and throat to become sore, inflamed or bleed. This makes it easier for HIV to get in, increasing the chance of infection.

If you’re HIV positive, STIs can increase the viral load in your blood, anal mucus, pre cum and cum, as well as in sores and lesions, increasing the chances of passing on HIV.

This page last updated 23 July 2008