Question
Do I continue ARVs after my pregnancy?
22 August 2011. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Starting treatment.
Hi guys. I am hiv + and 37 weeks pregnant. I am so scared as I don’t know what to expect. I am currently taking aspen lamzid (AZT/3TC) and Aluvia (lopinavir/r), will I be required to continue with the medication after my baby is born?
My cd4 is 480 and I only started taking medication after I found out that I was pregnant.
The med was giving me diarhea in the beginning, will this affect my baby or will the med do the same to my infant? Please help as am worried.
Answer
Hi
Great news about your pregnancy – and great that you were diagnosed in time to start treatment. The ARVs will dramaticially reduce the risk of your baby catching HIV.
All treatment is individualised. Whether ot not you continue treatment after the pregnancy will depend on many things.
This includes your CD4 count when you started treatment, how you feel about continuing treatment, and sometimes on the guidelines for the country where you live.
Diarrhoea is a common side effects of the Aluvia and other meds but will not affect the health of your baby.
Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy. See also this guide about HIV, women’s health and pregnancy.
Hi Khaya,
I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage.
But are you using Didivir as PrEP? Or are you HIV postive and taking other HIV meds. Please let us know.
The drugs used to treat HIV are safe to use when pregnant. Please discuss your miscarriage with your doctor.
Hi m Khaya i had a miscarrige of 9 weeks and i am using didivir tables so do i have to stop using them if i am pregnant ??
Hi Alicia.
How long have you been taking the ARVs for? What ARV are you taking? What time of day are you taking them, and how?
A CD4 count of 701 is great.
I’m a 28 year old and 5 month pregnant i found out that I’m HIV positive with a cd4 count of 701… But every time I drink the ARV pill I get more sick I vomit a lot an feel dizzy …
Hi Nokukhanya,
If you’re bleeding when having sex with your husband, this is something that you should talk to a doctor about. It won’t be related to you being positive. Nor to the meds.
I’m 9weeks pregnant and I’m HIV positive I’m on ARVs.but I didn’t booked for anc Everytime when I have sex with my husband blood comes out.but after we a done blood stops
Hi Fikile,
You being positive won’t be the reason for why you’re miscarrying. This is because being positive and being on meds doesn’t have any effect on a person’s fertility. This sounds like something that you may need to talk to a specialist about.
Im 37 years old I’ve been hiv for abt 10 years now I hv a 9 year old daughter she fine .I found out when I pregnant that I have the virus.now every time I try to hv another child I always hv miscarriages nd im taking treatment since 2016.everytime im 2-4 weeks I miscarry what is the problem.plz help
Hi Zamathole, I am sorry that you have had a difficult time. I don’t have an answer for the best way to talk to your partner. At some point you need to be able to talk to each other and trust each other. If he can’t get to this point so you can both start your new life together, then it might never be a happy relationship for you. I hope things turn out well though :)
I was pregnant the first time and tested negative and I lost my daughter in my 8 month. I was in a bad space for a year. Than 2 year after got pregnant and tested positive and my patner think I lied to him about that I am so hurt right now. I need to show him that I really didn’t know because my ex slept with me after I was tested.