If you plan to take a break from sexual intercourse, you have the perfect opportunity to explore other types of sexual activity that carry less risk for STI’s/HIV and help you get closer.

You can spend time building intimacy, through things like touching, mutual masturbation, sensual massages, or even just cuddling.

Most HIV transmission occurs from people who think they are HIV negative, but are living with undiagnosed HIV. This is because when someone is diagnosed, they are offered treatment soon after which reduces the virus to clinically undetectable and untransmittable levels.

This is why testing and knowing your HIV status is important. 

If you are sexually active you should test as often as every three months. This is because  tests are most accurate three months after exposure to HIV.

To safely stop using condoms within your relationship, you need to be able to talk openly and honestly with each other about why you want to do it, what the potential benefits and risks might be, the ground rules for sex inside and outside (if any) the relationship and how you’ll deal with any problems that may arise.

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medicine for HIV negative people. It is a pill taken before sex to protect the transmission of HIV.

It is important to remember that PrEP only protects against HIV and not any other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – condoms are the only method to protect against STIs.

There are four ways to take PrEP:

Being HIV positive and having an undetectable viral load means you won’t pass on HIV to your partners.  When a HIV positive person takes their treatment, within 6 months, they can become undetectable.

So, if a HIV positive person is on treatment and has an undetectable viral load there is zero risk of transmission. Undetectable = Untransmittable.

PEP

PEP is an emergency form of treatment which aims to reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV after a potential exposure to HIV.

PEP involves a 4 week course of HIV treatment that helps prevent someone from HIV infection.

PEP is for anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to HIV. Some of the most common reasons for needing PEP medication include: