Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 19, 2024, 12:09:21 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772783
  • Total Topics: 66296
  • Online Today: 241
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 223
Total: 223

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Viral Load of Semen  (Read 8021 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline David_CA

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,246
  • Joined: March 2006
Viral Load of Semen
« on: August 02, 2007, 12:12:14 pm »
I was reading a post from a few days back.  It got me wondering about viral loads of semen.  I searched (briefly) for anything on this, but didn't really find anything other than that it's not always undetectable when blood levels are.  So, is semen viral load ever tested?  I'm not wanting to have mine tested or anything, but I'm curious anyway.  Does anybody have any information on this?

David
Black Friday 03-03-2006
03-23-06 CD4 359 @27.4% VL 75,938
06-01-06 CD4 462 @24.3% VL > 100,000
08-15-06 CD4 388 @22.8% VL >  "
10-21-06 CD4 285 @21.9% VL >  "
  Atripla started 12-01-2006
01-08-07 CD4 429 @26.8% VL 1872!
05-08-07 CD4 478 @28.1% VL 740
08-03-07 CD4 509 @31.8% VL 370
11-06-07 CD4 570 @30.0% VL 140
02-21-08 CD4 648 @32.4% VL 600
05-19-08 CD4 695 @33.1% VL < 48 undetectable!
08-21-08 CD4 725 @34.5%
11-11-08 CD4 672 @39.5%
02-11-09 CD4 773 @36.8%
05-11-09 CD4 615 @36.2%
08-19-09 CD4 770 @38.5%
11-19-09 CD4 944 @33.7%
02-17-10 CD4 678 @39.9%  
06-03-10 CD4 768 @34.9%
09-21-10 CD4 685 @40.3%
01-10-11 CD4 908 @36.3%
05-23-11 CD4 846 @36.8% VL 80
02-13-12 CD4 911 @41.4% VL<20
You must be the change you want to see in the world.  Mahatma Gandhi

Offline J.R.E.

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,207
  • Positive since 1985, joined forums 12/03
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2007, 12:22:11 pm »
  I searched (briefly) for anything on this, but didn't really find anything other than that it's not always undetectable when blood levels are. 
David


Hello David,

The viral load in semen can also be much higher than that in the blood. I have read a couple different things on viral load in the semen. I don't believe there is a commercially available test to check this. I think if you go to the John Hopkins site you can get some further info


Take care




Ray
Current Meds ; Viramune / Epzicom Eliquis, Diltiazem. Pravastatin 80mg, Ezetimibe. UPDATED 2/18/24
 Tested positive in 1985,.. In October of 2003, My t-cell count was 16, Viral load was over 500,000, Percentage at that time was 5%. I started on  HAART on October 24th, 2003.

 As of Oct 2nd, 2023, Viral load Undetectable.
CD 4 @676 /  CD4 % @ 18 %
Lymphocytes,absolute-3815 (within range)


72 YEARS YOUNG

Offline J.R.E.

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,207
  • Positive since 1985, joined forums 12/03
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2007, 12:31:40 pm »

Also, there was this article a while back that was interesting, in reference to HIV hiding in the testicles :


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6323191.stm


Ray
Current Meds ; Viramune / Epzicom Eliquis, Diltiazem. Pravastatin 80mg, Ezetimibe. UPDATED 2/18/24
 Tested positive in 1985,.. In October of 2003, My t-cell count was 16, Viral load was over 500,000, Percentage at that time was 5%. I started on  HAART on October 24th, 2003.

 As of Oct 2nd, 2023, Viral load Undetectable.
CD 4 @676 /  CD4 % @ 18 %
Lymphocytes,absolute-3815 (within range)


72 YEARS YOUNG

Offline whizzer

  • Member
  • Posts: 392
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2007, 02:18:42 pm »
I've had the viral load of my semen tested three times in the last two years as part of the study I'm in.  Alas, I am not privy to the results at this time.  I will ask the results at the conclusion of the study.

Offline northernguy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,347
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2007, 10:32:29 pm »
Hmm, at least the viral load of semen test might be more fun than a blood draw ;)
Apr 28/06 cd4 600 vl 10,600 cd% 25
Nov 8/09 cd4 510 vl 49,5000 cd% 16
Jan 16/10 cd4 660 vl 54,309 cd% 16
Feb 17/10 Started Atripla
Mar 7/10 cd4 710 vl 1,076 cd% 21
Apr 18/10 cd4 920 vl 268 cd% 28
Jun 19/10 cd4 450 vl 60 cd% 25
Aug 15/10 cd4 680 vl 205 cd% 27
Apr 3/11 cd4 780 vl <40 cd% 30
Jul 17/11 cd4 960 vl <40 cd%33
April 15/12 cd4 1,010 vl <40 cd% 39
April 20/12 Switched to Viramune + Truvada
Aug 2/12 cd4 1040, vl <40, cd% 38
Oct 19 cd4 1,110 vl <40 cd% 41

Offline Jeffreyj

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,403
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2007, 07:09:40 am »
wouldn't it be the same as whats in your blood?
Positive since 1985

Offline milker

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,034
  • Protected phone sex
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2007, 01:53:22 pm »
The problem is that current HAART medication do a poor job entering places where semen is produced, like in the prostate gland. So HIV replication occurs more frequently in those places called reservoirs.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline mjmel

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,069
Re: Viral Load in Semen
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2007, 03:02:37 pm »
This is an interesting and fairly easy read on the topic:
http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/71/8/6271.pdf

Please note it was published in 1997. Poses another question, 'Is data a decade old: is it still valid'? Sometimes it is; sometimes not.
xxx,
Mike
« Last Edit: August 06, 2007, 03:09:35 pm by mjmel »

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2007, 04:29:10 pm »
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/45B4A0A9-02AC-4807-99B8-02BC8251104A.asp

This is a little newer and it explains it somewhat better.

Offline red_Dragon888

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,845
  • Love and Be Love in Return
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2007, 04:42:24 pm »
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/45B4A0A9-02AC-4807-99B8-02BC8251104A.asp

This is a little newer and it explains it somewhat better.

that was a very good article.  I guess if harrt can enter the places where hiv hids, then we have a better chance of curing aids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I3ba3lnFHik

Off Crystal Meth since May 13, 2013.  In recovery with 20 months clean time.

Offline mjmel

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,069
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2007, 05:19:05 pm »
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/45B4A0A9-02AC-4807-99B8-02BC8251104A.asp

This is a little newer and it explains it somewhat better.

a quote from the article RapidRod cites: "A separate study, also reported on aidsmap.com recently found that older HIV-positive men have a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer."

Great.
 :(
Mike

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2007, 05:31:43 pm »
Yeah, we do. But I don't know anyone our age that isn't at risk. It's a man thing.

Offline Bucko

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,947
  • You need a shine, missy!
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2007, 03:03:39 pm »
I think information's sketchy about VL in semen for two reasons:

1) It points out the failure of many antiretrovirals in penetrating the reservoirs where HIV hides;

2) There are many people in the medical community and elsewhere who are extremely uncomfortable with HIV+ men even having a sexlife. Does anyone else remember the hullabaloo around Medicare paying for Viagra for PWAs on disability?

Personally I've always found it ironic that those most active in propagating the feel-good message about living with HIV are the same who'd prefer that we all consider ourselves eunuchs and sexless.

Brent
(Who is anything but)
Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

Blathering on AIDSmeds since 2005, provocative from birth

Offline Grasshopper

  • Member
  • Posts: 736
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2007, 04:05:33 pm »
How about this then  ?  :
http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/1667_10825.shtml

"Previous studies have documented that HIV-positive people with "maximally suppressed" virus while on HIV drug treatment are significantly less likely to pass their virus along to their sexual partners.   .........

The study reviewed the files of 62 mixed-status couples who opted to conceive naturally between 1998 and 2005.  ...................

A total of 76 pregnancies among the 62 couples were documented during the seven-year period. ......

The authors reported that, in all cases, the HIV-negative partner remained uninfected."






Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2007, 05:01:21 pm »
Minimal risk does not mean no risk. Who in there right mind would want to take a chance and pass this disease off to a love one, let alone anyone else?

Offline mjmel

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,069
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2007, 05:27:12 pm »
Minimal risk does not mean no risk. Who in there right mind would want to take a chance and pass this disease off to a love one, let alone anyone else?

Kudos!

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2007, 05:32:57 pm »
Blood viral load is closely matched to semen viral load in most cases, perhaps a tad lower for RNA.  Complicated infectiousness wise by presence of HIV DNA and the high density of white blood cells that facilitate viral replication. 

On the basis of an important, early study reported in the Journal of AIDS (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 32(3):435-440, 2003) you may extrapolate that (as per this study's findings) continued viral shedding in the genitals (among men with suppressed blood viral load) relates closely and significantly to adherence, and people who adhere to their meds and have undetectable blood viral load are more likely than not, most likely even, to also have undetectable viral load in their semen.

Unfortunately, the other studies and case which show higher viral load in semen among gay men who have many casual partners (a) weren't controlled for adherence well (b) weren't controlled for "environmental factors" (drug use) well - plus (c) measuring semen viral load properly is hard under 1,000 copies.

So we know nothing.

Except, the many studies on transmission between heterosexual couples of mix HIV status that report 0 infections among regular couples with no other STIs tell us something.  But not the conception studies, since the chance of conception is higher than the chance of contracting HIV....

Therefore, we are confused.

- matt
« Last Edit: August 09, 2007, 03:00:08 am by newt »
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline milker

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,034
  • Protected phone sex
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #17 on: August 09, 2007, 01:05:45 am »

Blood viral load is closely matched to semen viral load in most cases, perhaps a tad lower for RNA.

<snip>
 
Except, the many studies on transmission between heterosexual couples of mix HIV status that report 0 infections among regular couples with no other STIs tell us something.  But not the conception studies, since the chance of conception is higher than the chance of contracting HIV....

Therefore, we are confused.

No shit.

But I'm curious about your first quote "Blood viral load is closely matched to semen viral load in most cases, perhaps a tad lower for RNA"  I thought that the consensus was that there was more VL in the semen than in the blood?

Milker (who is confused)
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #18 on: August 09, 2007, 03:10:19 am »
Closely matched I think in general, except perhaps in late stage infection without treatment.

Dr. Frascino answers this question

Abstract for an early study

... from which I have clipped the VL graphs for the six people on treatment, where you can see, as an example, the close relationship

- matt


[attachment deleted by admin]
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline Bucko

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,947
  • You need a shine, missy!
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #19 on: August 09, 2007, 03:44:02 am »
I thought that the consensus was that there was more VL in the semen than in the blood?

Milkie-

I think that's a combo old wive's tale/scare tactic.

Brent
(Who is wary about such things)
Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

Blathering on AIDSmeds since 2005, provocative from birth

Offline milker

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,034
  • Protected phone sex
Re: Viral Load of Semen
« Reply #20 on: August 10, 2007, 01:59:56 pm »
thank you !

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.