Question
How can I get pregnant when I am HIV positive?
25 October 2011. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.
Can you please give me information on the right procedure in getting pregnant when you are HIV positive?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
There are different options as regards getting pregnant when you are HIV positive.
The options take into consideration whether your partner is also HIV positive or whether they are HIV negative.
As you have not indicated this in your email, I am sending you our general guide on HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. The guide includes detailed information on the various options available. Please follow this link to this guide to HIV and pregnancy for more information.
Best wishes
Hi Nombulelo,
What has your CD4 count dropped to? And are you on medication?
I’m HIV positive and my boyfriend wants a baby. My CD4 count has dropped, what should I do?
Hi Veronica,
Being diagnosed with HIV can be a massive shock. Give yourself some time to digest what you’ve been told. Breath.
In time you will come to terms with your status. The anxiety that you are feeling now, will one day seem like it never happened. A thing of the past.
Its normal to feel anxious and scared when deciding to have a child. This applies to people who aren’t living with HIV. The thing to remember though, is that being HIV positive isn’t a barrier to having children. Millions of women all over the world who are positive have kids. And kids who are negative.
Because you’re on treatment, the risk of your transmitting HIV is drastically reduced. If you’ve been on it for at least 6 months and have an undetectable viral load then the risk of transmitting HIV to your boyfriend are close to zero. For more info on this please see the PARTNER study:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Like I said, pregnancy is a big thing for anyone. However, its very possible. And there’s not reason why you should be scared to talk to your doctor about it. Pregnancy is after all one of the most natural things that a woman can do. You may find our HIV and pregnancy guide helpful.
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Also, is it possible for you to talk to other women who are HIV positive and ask about their experiences? If you could tell me where you live, I might be able to help you will locating some support services for women.
Give yourself some time. Have a good talk with your boyfriend. And if you need anything else, just contact us.
Hello
I recently found I am hiv+. I started with treatment immediately,my very supportive boyfriend is negative. He is been talking about us having a baby. I am really scared to even follow it up with my doctor. I am still coming to terms with my status.we have always used protection. Is it too soon to even consider being pregnant?
Hi Emelda.
i-base advocates aren’t medical doctors, so I can’t comment on your fertility issues.
With regards to telling your boyfriend, have you tried to introduce the topic of HIV into conversation? If you have, what has his reaction been? Are you on treatment? If you are do you know if you have an undetectable viral load?
My boyfriend and I have been trying for a baby since October, so far nothing has happened. The thing is he doesn’t know about my status.
Hi Kayt. please talk to your doctor about this. Neither HIV nor treatment will be affecting the chance of getting pregnant. The doctor can give advice on the best ways to become pregnant and perhaps run tests to check. Sometimes this just takes time, but the doctor is a good place to start.
Hy guys , må lady is HIV positive, and we have been tryna have a kid but we keep failing, we both worried about the situation, pls i need your help , what’s the cause and what must we do ?
Hi Alice,
Even if you are worried about telling your husband, you need to be on ARVs for you own health. If you do not take ARVs your CD4 will drop. This will mean that unless your HIV is treated, you will eventually become ill. If you aren’t taking ARVs the risk of transmission is also greater. That is if you are having unprotected sex with your husband.
I can’t tell you how to tell your husband, as I don’t no either you or your husband. You could though try and find out what his understanding is about HIV. And also what his reaction might be.
If you are wanting to have a child, you will need to be on medication. If you aren’t the risk of transmission increases.
There is no easy way to do this. I do though wish you luck
Hi I was on ARVs, but when I got married I didn’t tell my husband anything…so I decided to leave taking medicine because of him…now he insist he want a kid..what can I do?