Dating can be an absolute minefield as it is, with ruthless app users judging you within a second and swiping left for the seemingly most insignificant things. But new research shows they're also making decisions on who to match with, and who to reject, based on suuuuper outdated myths.
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust and YouGov, just released some research looking into peoples' attitudes towards sex, relationships and HIV. And the results are truly disheartening.
It showed over one third of people wouldn't swipe right on someone who has HIV and is on effective treatment. A third were 'unsure' as to whether they'd swipe right.
What's more, over half of people don't believe that HIV positive people who are on effective treatment can't pass the virus on.
Not only does this show people are still buying into outdated myths about HIV, but that the stigma is still VERY real.
When participants were presented with the statement. ‘I would feel comfortable kissing someone living with HIV on effective treatment’, 43 per cent disagreed. Yep, this means only 35 per cent said they'd feel comfortable kissing someone with HIV. The truth is, whether an HIV positive person is on effective treatment or not, HIV CANNOT be passed on through kissing.
When asked if they'd have condomless sex with someone living with HIV and on effective treatment, 77 per cent said they wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.
Which is, in short, is utter madness.
As Terrence Higgins Trust explains, science has proven that people living with HIV who are on effective treatment cannot pass the virus onto sexual partners, regardless of whether they use a condom or not.
"It’s truly devastating to hear that so many wouldn’t swipe right for or even kiss someone living with HIV who’s on effective treatment," says Ian Green, chief executive at Terrence Higgins Trust. "We’ve known for three decades that HIV can’t be passed on through day-to-day contact and that includes kissing."
The PARTNER study examined 58,000 instances of sex between an HIV positive person on effective treatment, and a partner without HIV - and there were zero cases of HIV transmission.
"We hear on a near daily basis how out of date beliefs about how HIV is passed on are negatively affecting the lives and mental health of people HIV, and it urgently needs to change," Ian adds.
"Amazing medical progress has been made, but knowledge of HIV quite clearly hasn’t kept up with that progress. Effective treatment means HIV shouldn’t be a barrier to anyone doing anything they want to - and that includes having a fulfilling relationship and sex life. We all have a role to play in this and it’s high time for everyone to stop doubting the science and accept the realities of HIV, as that’s the best way to tackle the abhorrent stigma that still surrounds the virus."
