Question
I am in a serodiscordant couple, can we have children naturally?
16 May 2011. Related: All topics, Disclosure, Pregnancy, Support.
Hi,
I’m a mid-thirties male, four years diagnosed, three years treated (initially with Atripla, which then caused a rash so they moved me briefly to Kaletra and Truvada, before I insisted on a move back to Atripla). CD4 stable in the 450-550 range, VL less than 50 since three months after treatment started, health and well-being generally good.
For two and a half years, I have been increasingly involved with a girl who I love very much. Now, please don’t moralise to me on this next bit — I hadn’t told her of my status until last month, because the longer I left it, the harder it got to tell her. Suffice to say, she knows now, we’re still together, and although sometimes she understandably has difficult days. Also, she has been tested, she is negative.
So, I guess I’m writing for two reasons — firstly, she has previously mentioned wanting children, but we have since talked and agreed we’re not going to go down the sperm-washing route. I’ve read about the Swiss HIV Cohort Study — does anyone in this forum have any experience of serodiscordant pregnancy? Advice/observations/guidance very much appreciated.
Secondly, I’ve never had counselling. Previously, I railed against it — insisted I could get by on my own, insisted that I could cope. Now I find myself in a situation where the woman I love is obviously finding it difficult sometimes (although she’s a very stubborn, strong and independent woman), and I can’t help but think that counselling might be a good idea — for both of us. Can anyone suggestion how I go about bringing the subject up? Are there any specific groups that anyone can recommend (ideally in the Berkshire/Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire area) for serodiscordant couples?
Thanks in advance.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Telling someone you love about your status is never an easy thing to do. It is also something that many people only want to do when they really feel that their partner is someone very special who will love them no matter what. It is understandable that your partner finds it hard to deal with sometimes. She needs time to adjust and get used to the idea as well. Counselling is a good idea. The Terrance Higgins Trust offers a counselling service and which can provide support for you both.
As far as having children is concerned, Brighton and Birmingham hospitals have been running a pilot project for sero-discordant couples (male positive and female negative) wanting to conceive naturally. The results of this project were presented at a conference and can be seen here. There is a video of the presentation here (you will need to skip to the third presentation to watch the relevant one). You should ask your HIV doctor if they are able to either offer the same services or refer you both to these hospitals for the natural conception clinic.
The basic concept is that both partners are counselled separately and together. They are both tested to see if they are fertile. The male must have had an undetectable viral load for more than 6 months. Both partners should have no other STIs. The woman takes ARVs prior to unprotected sex to prevent infection and only has unprotected sex when she is at her most fertile. You should talk to your HIV doctor about this.
Hi Sinazo, If your partner is taking HIV treatment and undetectable then the risk is effectively zero. You can find out about testing from all frequently asked questions here.
my partner is his positive and I’m negative we hve 10 yrs in ths relationship is there any risk tht i could be affected
Hi Nicholas, most hospitals should have people you can both talk to. This could be counsellors or other health advisors. Many HIV support grops also provide counselling. Please ask for this so you can talk through everything,
Am Negative While My Partner Is Positive Can I Get More Counceling On This
Hi Sandisa
I think you read about the situation when it is the man who is positive and the women who is negative. In this situation, if the man was on treatment with an undetectable viral load, the woman could take one pill of tenofovir/FTC before sex and one pill after. This would be an additional caution but even this is rarely used now.
This is transmissions are not being reported when the positive partner has an undetectable viral load and even a very low risk would be even lower if the man is negative. Another recent study reported no transmissions after over 44,000 times when people with an undetectable viral load had sex without a condom. This was a voluntary study called PARTNER where people already were doing this.
http://i-base.info/htb/24904
Also, if your partner is still worried, you could self inseminate using his semen. your clinic should be able to explain the safer way to do this.
For more details please read this guide to HIV and pregnancy:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
I am HIV positive woman, I have a HIV negative partner, he wants us to have a baby naturally. I once read somewhere that if I am on ARV’s my partner can also take them when we are trying for a baby at that period time while we are trying to conceive and stop again he won’t be infected? I don’t know how TRUE is that can I have a clarification please. I need to know if by any chance is it possible for him not to be infected by the virus? We love each other very much and he is supportive. If there are any other means that we can do without me Infecting him please let me know.
Hi Luis,
HIV can pass from mother to child, but not father to child. If the mother is HIV negative throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding then the baby will also be negative.
Question:
Will, the babe born from a natural conception, and from a sero positive man and sero negative woman be healthy, if no speerm wash procedure was undergone, despite the undetectable VL?
No, this is not possible. You cannot become infected with HIV antibodies and not HIV itself. HIV antibodies are only produced when the person infected builds an immune response to the HIV infection.
I want to know if an adult could only contract HIV antbodies and not the real virus. What could these antibodies do then in this new body? Would this person develop HIV antibodies in their body due to exposure to HIV antibodies?
Please Help