Sexual transmission of HIV can be prevented if the people with HIV take antiretroviral therapy drugs as prescribed. These drugs help maintain an undetectable viral load--the amount of HIV in the blood, which make less transferable.

‘No Sexual transmission of HIV was found among couples with an HIV partner as the partner had a durably suppressed viral load.’

U=U means that people living with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load--the amount of HIV in the blood--by taking and adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. 




Writing in JAMA, officials from NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) review the scientific evidence underlying U=U and discuss the implications of the widespread acceptance of the message.
In the new commentary, NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and colleagues summarize results from large clinical trials and cohort studies validating U=U. The landmark NIH-funded HPTN 052 clinical trial showed that no linked HIV transmissions occurred among HIV serodifferent heterosexual couples when the partner living with HIV had a durably suppressed viral load. Subsequently, the PARTNER and Opposites Attract studies confirmed these findings and extended them to male-male couples.
Validation of the HIV treatment as a prevention strategy and acceptance of the U=U concept as scientifically sound have numerous behavioral, social and legal implications, the NIAID officials note. U=U can help control the HIV pandemic by preventing HIV transmission, and it can reduce the stigma that many people with HIV face.
The success of U=U as an HIV prevention method depends on achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load by taking ART daily as prescribed. Numerous factors, including lack of access to quality health care, can make ART adherence difficult.
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Source-Eurekalert