Question

Is unprotected sex safe in pregnancy?

3 July 2013. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.

Hi, I wanted to know is it safe to have unprotected sex when your pregnant while taking ARVs?

Answer

Answer: Rebecca McDowall

Hi,

Can you give me a bit more information to help me answer your question?

Is the person/people that you are considering having unprotected sex with also HIV+? If they are, are they also on treatment?

Being on treatment with an undetectable viral load will mean that the chance of passing HIV to your baby is very very small.

The main considerations around unprotected sex are

1. HIV reinfection (superinfection) if your partner(s) are HIV positive. This is really only a concern if your partner(s) have any drug resistance that could affect your treatment, and a detectable viral load. You can read about reinfection here.
2. Transmission to your partner(s) if they are HIV negative. Again, if you have an undetectable viral load this is much less likely. You can read about transmission and viral load here.
3. Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These can pose a risk to the health of your baby, and may increase the risk of transmitting HIV. It is therefore important that you and your partners are free from any STIs before having unprotected sex.

I hope this is helpful- please let me know if you have any questions or I can help further.