Bareback Sex and Superinfection....IS IT REAL??

[mrtallguy]

It seems that once I tested poz I was more attracted to other poz guys because we had that issue in common and because of that there was no stigma or judgment.   Since the concern about catching the virus is no longer an issue any sex is usually bareback for the simple (and perhaps crazy) reason that it feels great to be uninhibited and truly FEEL my partner.   There is plenty of talk from the medical community about superinfection but the REALITY of superinfection does not seem to play out when interacting sexually with others....are guys getting infected with multiple strains of HIV? What we KNOW versus what we DO does not always agree....(ie big head vs. little head)  Any thoughts? 

[Tucsonwoody]

Hello Tallguy,

Here is one article on the issue at least.  Looks like it is possible but rare, at least for now: http://www.thebody.com/treat/superinfection.html

"Winter 2005/2006
A number of individuals infected with more than one strain of HIV have been identified over the past few years. Should people already diagnosed with HIV be concerned? Given the limited number of cases seen so far, the risk of multiple infections (also called dual infection) appears to be quite low."

The article goes in to more detail if you're interested

[koi1]

My doctors warned me about it. They told me that some of their patients have had to switch to more complicated regimens after aquiring a drug resistant strain. Hep B, C has also affected some of the options of the patients they see. I was newly diagnosed and am being treated at Kaiser in Los Angeles. I just would not want to find out. But I am coming from eeking my way back from health.

rob

[Queen Tokelove]

I have heard talk of this too. It is understandable to want to be able to FEEL the one you're with but is it worth your health since you are already dealing with one strain. Not really directing this at you, Tall but this is also a question I have asked myself. I have heard the answer, Oh as long as we're together forever, it doesn't matter. Forever is a mighty long time and I'm here to tell you there's something else  *organ music*..the afterlife..Ooops, sorry I went into a Prince song....   Maybe I'm just a skeptic because my track record in the romance dept. really sucks and all those romances were suppose to be forever... I'm not willing to take the risk but that's just me.

[newt]

For a real considerd clinical view you can read chapter and verse on this in the new BHIVA (British HIV Association) guidelines on sexual and reproductive health for people with HIV (a PDF, from p55). - matt

[poet]

I would add that perhaps the concern in part comes from what releasing the brakes might mean, i.e. are we just talking about known partners having unprotected sex or are we talking about going back to the days of multiple partners, anyone of whom might have the early stages of other std's and so, unwittingly, be passing them along with what seems to be medicated and under control.  Remember hiv appeared at a time in NYC at least when std's were considered part of having sex and many NYC doctors were around as garages to prescribe what the engines needed before hitting the same roads again. Win

[bear60]

If you check the responses in the forums  on this topic....you will find somewhere that.....  and I do not QUOTE here becvause I do not have the response in front of me.... you will find that calculating your lowest risk in this case is possible.  For instance: if you are in a monogamous relationship, AND you both test UNDECTABLE and/or you are on medication, then what you are describing (SuperInfection) is a lower risk.  I guess the implication is that if you continure to be promiscuous, you are opening yourself up to a multitude of problems......and not just HIV of course.