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In a study published yesterday (May 2) in The Lancet, researchers report that out of 782 gay male couples where one individual was HIV positive and receiving antiretroviral treatment, there was no HIV transmission to the HIV-negative partner from unprotected sex. “The risk of HIV transmission in gay couples through condomless sex when HIV viral load is suppressed is effectively zero,” the authors write in their report.
A previous study reported 96 percent reduction of HIV transmission in heterosexual couples in which HIV-positive individuals were treated with antiretroviral drugs. That study only included a small number of men who have sex with men.
The PARTNER study reported inThe Lancetstudy was conducted in two phases: PARTNER1 recruited heterosexual and gay couples that had serodifferent partners, where one person in the couple was HIV-positive and taking antiretroviral treatment (ART). PARTNER2 only recruited gay male couples that were serodifferent. The ...
