Can HIV drugs cause birth defects?

To date there is no evidence that currently used ART increases the risk of birth defects.

Several yeas ago there was signal that there might be a slightly increased risk of neural tube defects with dolutegravir.

As we learned more, we found out that dolutegravir-based ART did not have a higher risk than other ART. Large numbers of women have now taken dolutegravir during pregnancy,

It is just as safe to take dolutegravir in pregnancy as other HIV meds.

Last updated: 1 November 2023.