X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Living With HIV Positive Partner: 'We Live Like A Normal Married Couple'

3 min read
Living With HIV Positive Partner: 'We Live Like A Normal Married Couple'

This wife says that she already knew about her husband's HIV-positive status before their marriage, and that it was her choice to marry him...

She describes herself as a happy wife with a tall, dark and handsome husband. The only catch? He’s had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since 1993.

Hanan, who is HIV-negative, took to Twitter on Sept 21 to share her story and dispel common myths about serodiscordant, or mixed-status, couples, gaining over 5,700 likes and 4,400 retweets.

Living with HIV positive partner: ‘We live like a normal married couple’

Yes, saya negative HIV, almost 6 years, married to HIV+ guy. With HAART treatment, we live like a normal married couple!!! pic.twitter.com/v6ItwSs3Fr

— Sis_Hanan (@Suamikuhivpoz) September 21, 2019

living with hiv positive partner

PHOTO: TWITTER

She shared a photo of a negative HIV test, writing in a mix of Malay and English: “Yes, I am HIV-negative, almost six years, married to an HIV+ guy. With HAART treatment, we live like a normal married couple!”

Living with HIV positive partner

Hanan went on to say that she had already known about her husband’s HIV-positive status before their marriage, and that it was her choice to marry him.

While the post garnered droves of positive comments, many curious netizens also had questions for Hanan.

CAN MIXED-STATUS COUPLES HAVE SEX?

According to Hanan, her husband had an undetectable viral load when they got married, thanks to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART).

A viral load is the amount of HIV present in a person’s bodily fluids. Effective HAART combines several anti-retroviral drugs to help people living with HIV lower their viral loads to undetectable levels, and improve their immune systems.

People with HIV who have an undetectable viral load effectively have no risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners, says the United States’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CAN THEY HAVE CHILDREN?

While Hanan and her husband do not have kids yet, she said that as long as she remains HIV-negative, any children that she has will be HIV-negative.

This is backed up by studies which show that couples like Hanan and her husband, where one is HIV-negative and the other has an undetectable HIV viral load, can safely conceive.

It is also important to note that consistency is key — people living with HIV have to stick to their treatment plan to maintain an undetectable viral load.

WHAT IS PREP?

One of the most common questions that netizens had for Hanan was whether she uses pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

People who are HIV-negative but are at risk of contracting HIV can choose to take PrEP daily, which prevents the virus from establishing itself in the body.

Hanan, whose husband’s viral load is undetectable and therefore untransmittable, clarified that she does not use PrEP.

DREAMING OF A LIFE WITHOUT STIGMA

Besides spreading awareness on Twitter under the handle @Suamikuhivpoz, Hanan told AsiaOne that she also runs WhatsApp support groups for people living with HIV and wives in serodiscordant relationships to share their problems.

“Not all problems can be solved, but at least they have a place and friends to share with,” she said.

With advances in medical science, HIV may no longer be a death sentence but for Hanan, a life without stigma is still a “big dream”.

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

This article was republished with permission from AsiaOne.

Also READ: Could getting a manicure give you HIV?

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

asiaone

  • Home
  • /
  • Diseases and Injuries in Adulthood
  • /
  • Living With HIV Positive Partner: 'We Live Like A Normal Married Couple'
Share:
  • Charlie Sheen says the toughest 3 words- "I'm HIV positive"

    Charlie Sheen says the toughest 3 words- "I'm HIV positive"

  • Pregnant mum diagnosed HIV positive by polyclinic by mistake

    Pregnant mum diagnosed HIV positive by polyclinic by mistake

  • This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

    This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Charlie Sheen says the toughest 3 words- "I'm HIV positive"

    Charlie Sheen says the toughest 3 words- "I'm HIV positive"

  • Pregnant mum diagnosed HIV positive by polyclinic by mistake

    Pregnant mum diagnosed HIV positive by polyclinic by mistake

  • This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

    This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.