What if I only discover I am HIV positive late in pregnancy?
Late diagnosis is defined as after 28 weeks of pregnancy but before labour starts. Being diagnosed this late is now rare in the UK. This is since HIV screening for all pregnant women was introduced.
But if this happens to you, there is plenty that can be done to help you have a negative baby.
Results from your viral load test will take less than a week, and sometimes only takes a few days. So some women in this situation will still be able to have a vaginal birth. This is if they start ART without delay and get an undetectable viral load by the time of delivery.
Integrase inhibitors get viral load to undetectable very quickly. An integrase inhibitor-based (most commonly raltegravir) regimen is likely to be recommended in late pregnancy, particularly if you have a high viral load.
Last updated: 1 April 2019.