Question
Can an HIV negative woman and her HIV positive partner conceive naturally?
16 January 2018. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Pregnancy, Sero different couples.
My boyfriend is HIV positive and I am negative. We have unprotected sex regularly and are interested in becoming pregnant the old fashioned way rather than using the sperm washing method.
– What are my chances, percentage wise, of catching HIV?
– How often should I get tested?
– How long does it take for the infection to be detectable?
– Will my baby be at risk?
– Will the baby automatically be HIV positive?
– Is this a very ignorant choice?
– Should I take the medications as well as a precaution?
– Also, is my three year old daughter who lives with us at risk? What should I do to keep her safe?
– What are safe viral load counts for him to have?
I feel very confused, but I love my boyfriend and enjoy our sex life. Please answer these questions and ease my anxiety a bit.
Answer
Thank you for your questions. I shall try and answer them one at a time.
Modern HIV meds are so effective that they also protect your partner. Spermwashing has not been needed or recommended for many years.
What are my chances, percentage wise, of contracting HIV?
An HIV negative woman and an HIV positive man can conceive naturally.
This can be done through limited conception attempts during the most fertile days of your cycle. i.e when you are as ovulating.
If your partner has an undetectable viral load on treatment (ideally for a few months), then the risk becomes zero.
The PARTNER study reported zero HIV transmissions after about 900 couples had sex than 58,000 times without a condom when the positive partner had an undetectable viral load.
For more information on HIV and natural conception, please follow this link on HIV and pregnancy and this link on the Swiss Statement.
How often should I get tested and how long does it take for the infection to be detectable?
For information on HIV testing and the window period [time between exposure and when infection can be picked by an HIV test], please follow this link
Will the baby automatically be HIV positive?
As you are HIV negative, the baby will be HIV negative.
Will my baby be at risk?
Your baby can be at risk if you become HIV positive whilst pregnant and your viral load is very high. Returning to using condoms after you become pregnant might still be a good idea, even when your partners viral load is undetectable.
A high viral load is one of the main risk factors for transmission. If viral load is detectable, there is a higher risk of catching HIV during pregnancy.
Transmission to the baby can occur at 3 stages, but only if you become HIV positive.
- During pregnancy
- At the time of delivery
- Through breast-feeding.
However, there are interventions to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby during pregnancy and birth. These include:
- Taking treatment so that viral load is undetectable by the time of delivery
- Giving the baby a course of treatment for the first 4 weeks of life.
For more information please follow this link.
Is it an ignorant choice?
This is not an ignorant choice. Many thousands of couples in your situation have children naturally. Luckily treatment now dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting HIV if this process is done carefully.
However, it is important that both you and your partner make an informed choice. It is recommended that you discuss your options with your doctor.
Should I take medication as a precaution?
Sometimes PrEP [Pre exposure Prophylaxis] and PEP [Post Exposure Prophylaxis] are used an additional precaution. This involves taking a single dose of treatment before and after having sex.
PrEP is not likely to add much or any protection, because having an undetectable viral load is enough. It might help for psychologically if you are nervous. PrEP is very effective too.
More information on PrEP is at this this link
Is my 3 year old at risk and what should I do to keep her safe?
Your 3 year old is not at risk as HIV is not transmitted from daily activity.
What are safe levels for my partner’s viral load?
The risk of transmission is so low when your partner has an undetectable viral load that is it generally thought to be close to zero.
Note: This question was updated in January 2018 and September 2016 from an original answer in September 2011.
i have tested negative while pregnant my baby is 8 months and breast feeding but now husband is positive is there any possibility that i met be positive also and the baby.
Using HIV treatment will keep you healthy and dramatically protects the baby from catching HIV in more than 99% people. You may also need to tkae treatment for you hepatitis to reduce that risk to your baby, but some drugs work against both HIV and hepatitis B.
pls my cd4 count is 349 and also am hepatistis B positive. i also have uterine fibrod, but book for surgery by jan, whats my chances of health and making babies. thanks.
My boyfriend is hiv positive and I’m negative. is it posible for us to get a baby??
It is not clear whether it is you or your wife who is HIV positive.
The risk to your baby relates to your wife’s HIV status. By using HIV treatment during pregnancy this risk is dramatically reduced.
See the new pregnancy guide linked to the homepage:
http://i-base.info/
If you are HIV negative then a long as you use condoms from now on you will not be at risk from HIV.
we are expecting our first child, as part of requirements for her clinic, we were told to take the HIV test and discovered, that my wife was HIV, my questions are 1, what are the chances of my becoming infected? 2. what are the chance of the baby becoming infected?
Hi
If your husband is using HIV treatment and has an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmitting HIV is much lower. However, it is difficult to understand why he would put you at this risk, or why you let yourself have this risk.
Unless you are able to talk to your husband about this, nothing is likely to change. It there a health worker you can support you in these discussions?
The information provided by i-Base is supported by numerous studies.
Carefully following the guidelines outlined above are a very safe way to conceive a baby. This does involves using HIV meds to have an undetectable viral load.
If you are not on ARVs, then condoms are always recommended to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
I strongly suggest that you don’t unprotected sex with your partner since it is very risky. Since you love him so much, please start using protection and go for sperm washing to conceive.
Hi….reading that there r people out there in the same situation as i am has given me a lot of hope.A year and half ago my husband tested HIV positive….am stiil negative. He works abroad and comes home after two years. Am still devastated and so confused. I love him alot tho and would like to support him. He loves me too. He will soon come home and am not sure how our sex life will be. We havent told our five children yet. What do we do…or rather what shall i do? I so much want him to come home yet am so scared too. Please help