Question
How can a couple who are both positive have a child?
19 November 2015. Related: Access to treatment, HIV reinfection (superinfection), Pregnancy.
How can a couple who are both positive have a child? What procedure should be followed to have a child?
Answer
Hi,
It is great that you are thinking of having a child. Many couples like yours safely have HIV negative children today. Most couples now conceive by having sex without condoms. They are protected from transmission by their HIV treatment.
In your case the only risk of having sex without condoms is reinfection. This could happen if one of you is resistant to medication that the other isn’t. The chances of this happening are low. If you both are on treatment and have ‘undetectable’ viral loads you are not resistant to your current meds.
If you become pregnant you would either start or stay on HIV treatment. This will prevent your child becoming positive.
You can find lots of information about HIV and having children in our online guide.
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