Probability 1/1000 HIV

Hi I been following this forum quite often.

Can somebody clarify the following claim because I have seen it used in two instances.

You have a probability of 1/1000 (or 0.0009) of contracting HIV from a person with UNKNOWN STATUS or a person who is HIV POSTIVE?

Thanks

[NickOne7]

Well to start, Odds mean nothing when it comes to being infected.

We really don't get into odds on this forum, but I will try to help you out with your question. The 1 in 1000 odds refer to someone having unprotected sex with any known HIV+ person. If someone is to have unprotected sex with a HIV- person and they are as well HIV- there is no odds of transmission it would then be zero.

Some state the chance one is infected with HIV is around 1 in 1000  and the chance of contracting HIV during a "Single" unprotected sex exposure (Not including oral) is as well around 1 in 1000 or even 1 in 2000. So as some state the odds of getting infected from a single exposure to a person with unknown status is estimated around 1 in 1 million.

These estimated odds are for vaginal sex, Unprotected anal sex is much higher risk - some estimate this as 1 in 500.

Oral sex = NO RISK for HIV infection

As I said above Odds mean nothing when it comes to being infected

Please note a risk is a risk and it only takes one time to become infected so please do not base your exposure on odds but only a test @ 3 months to be sure.

Hope this helps!

[NickOne7]

Yes, that can be true, but there is also a chance of being infected the first and only time you have unprotected anal or vaginal sex with HIV+ partner.  Don't count on odds when determining your status only a test for HIV can tell you your status.

Hope this helps!

[niceguy12]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your comment but my question wasn't answered.

I constantly read people referring to the 1/1000 probability.

My question is:

Does 1/1000 probability of contracting HIV refer to unprotected sex with:

a) Anyone (status unknown)
b) Highrisk individual (sex worker, etc.)
c) confirmed HIV Positive individual

[Teak]

What are you asking? Plus don't be posting in the Living With Forum.

[NickOne7]

Well to start, Odds mean nothing when it comes to being infected.

We really don't get into odds on this forum, but I will try to help you out with your question. The 1 in 1000 odds refer to someone having unprotected sex with any known HIV+ person. If someone is to have unprotected sex with a HIV- person and they are as well HIV- there is no odds of transmission it would then be zero.

Some state the chance one is infected with HIV is around 1 in 1000  and the chance of contracting HIV during a "Single" unprotected sex exposure (Not including oral) is as well around 1 in 1000 or even 1 in 2000. So as some state the odds of getting infected from a single exposure to a person with unknown status is estimated around 1 in 1 million.

These estimated odds are for vaginal sex, Unprotected anal sex is much higher risk - some estimate this as 1 in 500.

Oral sex = NO RISK for HIV infection

As I said above Odds mean nothing when it comes to being infected

Please note a risk is a risk and it only takes one time to become infected so please do not base your exposure on odds but only a test @ 3 months to be sure.

Hope this helps!

[niceguy12]

Thanks that makes sense. I was doing the math myself and couldn't get the numbers. 1 in 250 of the world's population is infected with HIV. However, this number can be misleading in terms of a sexual risk as not all HIV infections are through sexual activity. So I understand the use of 1 in 1000 instead. I was getting a total number of
1 in 250 000 but I understand your calculation of 1 in million.

As for the chance of 1 in 1000 with a HIV+ person, I guess it just seemed unrealistic based on a personal bias. Today, HIV education seems to scare us more than educate us and I didn't realize that chance of contraction was so low.

Thank you for clarifying Nick. As for me I don't currently have any exposures. I was just wondering why my math was not matching the rest of the forum. Regardless, does not mean to stop practicing protected sex.

And sorry Teak.

[blactor]

My personal opinion is that while the odds are low, its madness to play russian roulette by having unprotected sex. There is no need.