Marianne* used to think that using condoms was unsexy as it spoilt the mood. She had a change of heart two years ago however, after finding out she was HIV positive.

The 20-year old discovered her condition when she and her then fiance decided to go for a full body medical check-up to ensure they could have babies. When he found out she was HIV positive however, he dumped her.

Marianne told Her World, "I was shattered...but what really hurt was that my boyfriend broke off our engagement. He claimed we were incompatible because we quarrelled a lot but I knew that he left because I had HIV."

The N-Levels graduate struggled to cope with the aftermath of her medical results, and spun into a web of "hardcore partying" in a bid to get over her heartbreak. She also had to break the harsh news to all her seven ex-boyfriends, five of whom she had unprotected sex with.

All of her ex-boyfriends denied being HIV positive and a spiteful ex-boyfriend even blabbed to her mother that she had contracted the disease.

Marianne says her mother found it hard to accept her condition at first. "She washed our clothes separately and used different dinner plates. But she's overcome her anger...and we're now closer than ever." Marianne has not told her father yet as she fears provoking his hot-tempered nature might cause him a heart attack.

She also does not want to find out who infected her, telling Her World, "What's the point? The most important this is that I've moved on."

The strong-willed teenager managed to secure a sales job at a company where no one knows about her illness and she has a doting boyfriend by her side. "He's in his 30s and I told him about my condition very early on. It surprised me that he still accepted me." The couple lead a normal life but are very careful when they have protected sex.

On her initial displeasure of using condoms, Marianne says, "Now I know wearing one is worth sacrificing a few minutes of pleasure. Life goes on, and though I get down sometimes, I remind myself that I've my whole life ahead of me and that keeps me smiling."

* Not her real name
For the full story, grab a copy of Her World's December issue at all newsstands today.

s0 p00r thing.... s0 y0ung 0nly ganna aids lia0.

this type of thing... regret oso no use liao. hopefully she will spend the rest of her time happily.