Abstract
BackgroundThe risk of male-to-female intravaginal HIV-1 transmission is estimated at about 1 event per 200–2000 coital acts. The aim of this study was to assess the residual risk of HIV presence in semen in patients under HAART therapy.Methods and FindingsThe study took place in France from October 2001 to March 2009. 394 paired blood and semen samples were provided from 332 HIV-1 infected men. The Roche Cobas AMPLICOR Monitor HIV assay was used to quantify HIV-1 RNA in blood and in seminal plasma. Three percent of 394 HIV-1 infected men enrolled in an assisted reproductive technology program harbored detectable HIV-1 RNA in semen, although they had no other sexually transmitted disease and their blood viral load was undetectable for at least 6 months under antiretroviral treatment.ConclusionThese data suggest that undetectable plasma HIV RNA means a lower risk of viral transmission through seminal fluid on a population level, but not necessarily at the level of the individual.
Highlights
HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS, has infected about 33 million people and caused over 20 million deaths (UNAIDS data)
These data suggest that undetectable plasma HIV RNA means a lower risk of viral transmission through seminal fluid on a population level, but not necessarily at the level of the individual
Protected intercourse is strongly recommended for HIV-serodiscordant couples in all circumstances
Summary
HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS, has infected about 33 million people and caused over 20 million deaths (UNAIDS data). More than 80% of these HIV-1 infections are acquired through sexual intercourse. Despite its dramatic spread in the human population, the efficiency of HIV-1 transmission via the sexual route is surprisingly poor. The risk of male-to-female intravaginal HIV-1 transmission is estimated at about 1 event per 200–2000 coital acts [1]. Most infections result from genital exposure to semen (SE) of HIV-positive men [2]. Women who acquired HIV-1 through vaginal intercourse constitute almost 60% of new infections in Africa [3]. The risk of male-to-female intravaginal HIV-1 transmission is estimated at about 1 event per 200–2000 coital acts. The aim of this study was to assess the residual risk of HIV presence in semen in patients under HAART therapy
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