Question
If we are both HIV-positive, how can we have a baby that is not infected?
10 November 2009. Related: All topics.
Answer
Hi
The short answer is that if you are both HIV-positive, then having a baby is in many ways less complicated than if either of you was HIV-negative.
Use of HIV treatment will depend on your partners current health, but generally, by both using HIV treatment through pregnancy and having an undetectable viral load at delivery, this should mean that there is a 99% chance that the baby will not become infected with HIV.
For more details see our HIV and pregnancy guide.
These online questions and answers may also be useful.
Best wishes
Simon
PS – If you could spare a couple of minutes to answer anonymously a few questions about this information service at the following link, it would really help us see the service is used:
http://www.i-base.info/questions/qasurvey.html
Hi Hawa, are you and your partner on treatment? and what is your viral load/CD4 counts?
Treatment does not have any impact on fertility. As it would be keeping you both healthy, HIV treatment can only help to improve your fertility and keep you both healthy.
As you have been trying for the last 3 years have you spoken with your doctor? Which country are you based? Usually it is recommended that after 2 years of trying you should speak to your doctor to have further testing done fertility if it is deemed appropriate by yourselves and your doctor.
My partner and I positive we are trying to have a baby for three years now
Hi Halima,
If you’re positive it’s better to have an undetectable viral load before you start trying for a baby. Are you able to wait?
If you and your partner have the same strain of HIV, there’s no risk of reinfection. If you have different strains, reinfection could occur.
I and my partner re positive n we re not yet undetectable.. Can we have sex without protection…. Cus we re trying for baby
Hi Portia,
You being positive wont’ be the reason why you haven’t conceived, if you’re having issues you’ll need to talk to a fertility specialist.
Is there any reason why you and your partner aren’t on medication? I’m asking as it’s important that people use ARVs.
My partner and I are positive we not on medication as yet.. but for a year we have been doing unprotected sex with intension for wanting a baby but it came to my attention that we didn’t conceive..
Should I be worried that we can’t have children or it has to do with the cd4 count..