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 James, thanks – and great to hear your plans. Best place to start is to talk to both your doctor(s) because they know you and your individual situation and history. The doctor can also give information to help with conception and timing. If you are both undetectable you can just conceive naturally.
This online guide has a lot more detailed information including for your partner too:
https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi my partner and I are on treatment so we need to have kids so what must we do? or what is the right time to have babies?
Hello Aminata and many thanks for the question.
Are you on treatment?
You just need to be on treatment. That is all you need to do.
And have sex without a condom.
If you are on treatment your babies will be born HIV-free.
There is usually support and the midwife can give you more information about the specifics when you get pregnant.
What you need to remember is that people living with HIV on treatment cannot pass on HIV to their babies.
here you can read more: https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
My husband and I are living with hiv and we want to have babies ,what can we do?