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August 28, 2007
Viral Load Peaks in Semen
Viral concentration in the semen of HIV positive men reaches its peak three to four weeks following infection, says a new study published in the August 20th edition of AIDS. New data in this study also conclude that those with late-stage infection have higher viral loads in their semen.
By studying 951 men entering an STD clinic in Malawi, researchers learned that viral load in the blood peaked 17 days after infection, while taking up to 4 weeks in semen. After the fourth week, viral loads in both bodily fluids dropped sharply before stabilizing by the tenth week of infection.
