Q and A

Question

My husband is positive and on treatment, can we have a baby, am I at risk?

14 November 2016. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Pregnancy.

I do not have hiv and my husband undergoing hiv treatment and have always hiv negative results for 3 years now. We are trying to have sex, because my husband wanted to have a baby in a normal way. Is it possible that I can be hiv positive?

Answer

Answer: Lisa Thorley

Thanks for getting in touch.

Yes you and your husband can conceive the normal way. Lots of couples do. Because your husband is on treatment, the risk of transmission are close to zero. Please see the results from the PARTNER study:
https://i-base.info/htb/30108

The following also has more information about conceiving:
https://i-base.info/qa/4601

2 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi G,

    Do you know what your viral load is? If its undetectable, (which in theory it should be because you’ve been on meds for 9 months) then if you choose to have sex without using condoms, the risks of transmission are close to zero. For more information please see the results of the PARTNER study:

    http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

    With regards to the pill that you mention. Yes there is a pill that people who are negative can take. Its called PrEP, which stands for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis. Its one pill that’s taken daily. There more info about it here:

    http://i-base.info/guides/testing/pep-pepse-and-prep

  2. G •

    I am HIV positive and I have been on ARVs for 9 months. I recently found a partner and we are planning to have sex. The problem is he heard over the radio about a pill a person who is negative can take when they sleep with a positive person. My question is, does the pill exist, what’s its name and what are the side effects?