If one or both partners already have an STD I have heard that it increases your risk of obtaining HIV??? How much does it increase your risk??? Does it matter or not whether that person has symptoms present or not?? I hear that Trichomoniasis increases your risk 4 to 5 times.

I am not a doctor, however, I have did a lot of research on HIV transmission. The CDC as well as a lot of other groups say the presence of STD's increase you risk up to 5 times. Hiv is a hard virus to transmit, however, most STD's are bacterial and bacterial is very easy to transmit. I hope this info helps.

tyra

It stands to reason if your catching STD's you will sooner or later get HIV too because of your sex practices. No STD will lead to HIV. The increase come from unproted sex with too many partners. Some STD's can lead to worse things such as genital wart increase the chances of developing cervical or anal cancer. A lesion in the mouth is a portal of entery for any virus into the body including HIV. Avoid STD's and HIV the same way by decreasing the number of sex partners, know who your partners are, and above all use protection. Even all this is no garrenty you won't get an STD including HIV but it will greatly reduce the risk. Cajinman RN

I have heard that the reason, or one reason, that having other STD's increases your risk of HIV infection is because other STD's can cause sores or breaks in the skin that can allow the HIV virus to infect easier. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif