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.
Hi Nthabeleng,
Sorry, it sounds tough at the moment. But being 18 is young. And if you are on HIV treatment (ART) you can have very many years in front of you.
Finding a partner who is right for you can be difficult for many people. But if you are on ART and your viral load is undetectable, you don’t have to use condoms. You can read about Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) here.
Maybe you can use this information to explain that condoms can be more about choosing when to have a baby, and not about cheating.
Here is the i-Base guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.
I am HIV positive from birth and now i am 18 years old.I struggle to find to find a partner where he will love me for who I am because am tired of what is happening in my life,its hard of always hearing my sex partner not trusting me when we get intimate using a condom thinking that I am cheating or something.
Hi Mokgadi,
It’s perfectly safe to have sex during pregnancy unless your doctor or midwife has told you not to. It’s great that your viral load is undetectable because that can protect your partner as well as your baby.
Hello um a 28years old lady I just found out that I am hiv positive 2years ago n I have been taking my treatment since then.my viral load is undetectable n I just found out 2month later that I am pregnant.is it safe to continuing having sex with my partner because he is hiv negative or I should stop until I give birth ?
Hi Brian,
The U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) campaign can help you stop over thinking about this. When your girlfriend is on HIV treatment (ART) with a stable undetectable viral load, there is zero risk of transmitting HIV. And Here is a link to the PARTNER study that reported zero transmissions after couples had sex 58,000 times without using condoms.
MA girl friend is positive and am negative currently we are in serious relationship and all of us we need each other so what can I do to void over thinking about it
Hi Philemon.
What you’re being told is wrong. If your partner is negative then your baby isn’t at any risk. It just isn’t. Babies are only at risk if their mothers are positive. Which country are you in?
Hi
on 08 May 2018 I asked a question about us (discordant couple and unborn baby) and received an answer from Roy.
I would like to thank you very much but now there’s a confusion.
kindly refer back to our situation stated on 08May 2018.
My partner is still testing negative now they told her that they will do a PCR testing for the baby after labour. they say the reason why the mother is testing negative it’s because her receptors cannot accept hiv however that does not mean she does not have hiv in her blood. therefore cross transmission is possible or even during labour she can infect the baby because she was not taking treatment because of her status.
1. how true this is?
2. what can be done because she is due for labour this month.
3. what can we expect.
please advise we are stressing.
Hi Sally,
The way to find out if you are HIV positive is to have an HIV test. Herbs are not a cure for HIV. But you can start HIV treatment (called ART) and this can stop HIV from making you seriously ill.
l have sex with 7 girls
l believe l have contacted
hiv l need herbs cure.