Question
What does 'limited conception attempt' mean?
21 May 2008. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Pregnancy.
Answer
This term is used when an HIV-positive man and an HIV-negative woman are trying for a baby, if they do not have access to spermwashing.
It refers to ‘limiting’ the times that they self inseminate or have unprotected sex to the 1-2 days in the womans menstrual cycle when she is most fertile – and making sure that they continue to use condoms at all other times.
This should only be considered as an option when the man has had an undetectable viral load for at least 6 months, from using HIV treatments. He needs to be adherent, with no other infections, and preferably to have a semen sample checked for viral load too. Sometimes PREP and PEP are used as an additional safety mechanism. (This is where the woman takes a single dose of HIV drugs before and after exposure).
More information is included in the ‘planning your pregnancy‘ chapter of the i-Base Guide to HIV, Pregnancy and Womens Health.
A report in HTB of this approach, with links to other articles and sources is included here.
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