Kudos to you if you find out that your boyfriend is HIV positive and you still choose to live with him. It takes a lot of guts and love to continue in the relationship after you have found out. Even though not all people with HIV virus get AIDS, it always remains a constant threat. There is also the constant danger of you getting infected with the virus if you have sexual relations with your boyfriend. Since it would not make sense to practice abstinence all the time, you should focus more on having safe sex. Here are some things you should do when your boyfriend is HIV positive.
1. Practice safe sex
No matter what kind of sex you have, make sure you have adequate protection. Use condoms all the time and also dental dams if you are performing oral sex on him. Always be aware of the risk of transmission and take extensive care before you get physically intimate with him.
2. Make sure he takes his drugs and retroviral therapy regularly and on time
The drugs and retroviral therapy keeps the virus levels in the body levels to a minimum. That does not mean that the transmission won’t happen. It jus minimizes the chances. Even then you will have to take necessary precautions.
3. Do not share syringes or toothbrushes with your boyfriend
In case you take drugs or use an injection for other medical purposes make sure you do not share any injections between the two of you. People get infected a lot and easily when they share syringes. Although the chances are very minimal, it is likely that one of you may have an open wound in the mouth or cracks in the lips through which the virus can be transferred. Try not to use the same brush, even by mistake.
4. Give him loads of love
Love him as much as you can. He will need all the emotional support you can provide him. People with HIV can live healthy and for a long time without actually getting AIDS. Do not judge him and stand by him as much as you can.
5. Ensure that he eats healthy
AIDS is not a disease in itself but the virus just destroys your immune system. So you can even die of a common cold or a fever. It is important that he eats healthy and takes his medications on time. If he forgets or is careless you should make sure that he gets everything on time. It is not only his happiness and health that is at stake but yours as well.
6. Read as much as you can about the infection as well as the treatment
It becomes not only important to him but to you as well to know as much as you can about the HIV infection. You are a couple and what affects one will definitely impact the other too.
Do not panic under any circumstances and understand that life can be as normal as possible even with the HIV infection. Do not get depressed and do not let your boyfriend get depressed as well.