The Opposites Attract survey has confirmed people living with HIV with undetectable viral loads cannot transmit the virus.
Yet another major a study has shown that Treatment as Prevention (TaSP) is a highly effective way of preventing HIV transmission between gay men.
The results of an Australian study has contributes to global evidence proving that when a HIV-positive partner is on daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) and has an undetectable viral load, the risk of sexual transmission to the HIV-negative partner is effectively zero.
Called Opposites Attract, the study was led by led by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney.
‘Opposites Attract shows that HIV treatment as prevention works,’ said study project leader Dr Benjamin Bavinton
‘Not only is this information vital to inform HIV prevention in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, it provides strong evidence to help dismantle some of the stigma still associated with HIV.’
The original Opposites Attract findings were delivered to the IAS Conference on HIV Science in Paris last year.
Researchers tracked the sexual behaviour of 343 couples in Australia, Brazil and Thailand over four years period. They specifically researched acts of condomless anal intercourse. They also tested the HIV-negative partner for HIV, and the HIV-positive partner’s viral load.
12,000 acts of condomless sex
Researchers tracked 12,000 acts of condomless anal intercourse where the HIV- negative partner was not taking PrEP and the HIV-positive partner was virally suppressed. They found there were no new HIV infections due to sex between Opposites Attract study partners.
Since last year, the Opposites Attract data has added to a previously limited body of evidence in this area.
Professor Andrew Grulich is the Kirby Institute’s HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program head and the study’s chief investigator. He said the study results highlight some important findings.
‘These results form a significant part of the evidence base for the international community-led Undetectable=Untransmissible, or U=U campaign,’ said Gurlich.
‘(The campaign) highlights the fact that people living with HIV can now live long and healthy lives, with effectively zero chance of sexually transmitting the virus to others, provided their viral load is undetectable due to effective ART,’
