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H.i.v. spread is not so easy to prævent as many think. Many seem to think that the use of a condom turns transmission risk from 99% to 0% or something along th

H.i.v. spread is not so easy to prævent as many think. Many seem to think that the use of a condom turns transmission risk from 99% to 0% or something along those lines. The reality is more so that it changes 1% to 0.3%, and it heavily depends on the sex act and direction of transmission as well. Another not so often sung fact is that the transmission rate from patients who take blockers properly, and thus have an undetectable viral load is 0%. https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/estimated-hiv-risk-exposure https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/estimated-hiv-risk-exposur...

aemreunal 6y ago
Wow that link has been super informative, thank you! I knew that the transmission risk was actually lower than commonly thought but wasn't aware that it was direction- and sexual act-dependent, nor that condoms were of great but still limited effect. Thanks!
- Blikkentrekker 6y ago
  In fact, receptive penio-anal sex has about 17 times as high a transmission rate than receptive penio-vaginal sex, which an order of magnitude more difference than what a condom can make in either. The difference a condom makes is quite comparable to being the receiver or penetrator in penio-vaginal sex, in fact.
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foldr 6y ago
If you look at the link below, you’ll see that the 70% figure comes from a study of repeated sex over time (with self-reported condom usage), and so can’t be applied to the figures for a single sex act. Preventing semen from coming in contact with the vagina/anus will reduce transmission risk to effectively zero, and condoms don’t break all that often. Correct condom use will make you as an individual much safer. But as a public health strategy, telling people to use condoms has a significant but limited effect. More info here: https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/do-condoms-work https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/do-condoms-work

aemreunal 6y ago

Wow that link has been super informative, thank you! I knew that the transmission risk was actually lower than commonly thought but wasn't aware that it was direction- and sexual act-dependent, nor that condoms were of great but still limited effect. Thanks!

Blikkentrekker 6y ago
In fact, receptive penio-anal sex has about 17 times as high a transmission rate than receptive penio-vaginal sex, which an order of magnitude more difference than what a condom can make in either. The difference a condom makes is quite comparable to being the receiver or penetrator in penio-vaginal sex, in fact.

deleted 6y ago

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foldr 6y ago

If you look at the link below, you’ll see that the 70% figure comes from a study of repeated sex over time (with self-reported condom usage), and so can’t be applied to the figures for a single sex act. Preventing semen from coming in contact with the vagina/anus will reduce transmission risk to effectively zero, and condoms don’t break all that often. Correct condom use will make you as an individual much safer. But as a public health strategy, telling people to use condoms has a significant but limited effect. More info here: https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/do-condoms-work https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/do-condoms-work