[Question #11096] General Question about PEP

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17 months ago
Hi doctor - thank you for all of your knowledge. I am finally getting over my unfounded fear. However, I have just one general question for my knowledge, and maybe helpful for others.

1. Can you explain the following: if someone has unprotected sex in the middle of taking pep, is it possible/likely for them to pass hiv on to their partner, without themselves actually acquiring the hiv since pep ended up working for them after the 28 day course? Why or why not? 

2. Also, is it possible to have a high viral load while taking pep, then after your pep treatment your viral load returns to normal and you are hiv negative?

These questions don’t fuel my anxiety, the science just really peaked my curiosity. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago
These are repetitive, "what if" questions which demonstrate your anxiety and misunderstanding of HIV transmission.  I will provide a single response and close the thread.  Should you return again, the thread will be deleted without a response and without return of your posting fee

1.  Persons who take PrEP do not get HIV.  It is 99% effective.  If an infected persons takes PrEP, it is likely to be less effective than standard HIV therapy which is comprised of additional medication  Such a person could potentially transmit HIV although transmission on persons taking effective therapy (including DOVATO) typically have their viral levels suppressed and therefor do not transmit HIV.

Only infected persons can transmit HIV.  Once infected and HIV is circulating in the blood, it does not go away without taking effective therapy. Thus the idea that someone could transmit HIV without being infected is non-sensical

2.  The scenario you describe is not plausible.  

End of thread.  No further questions.  EWH
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