Question
Why is my husband HIV negative when I am pregnant and HIV positive?
23 January 2018. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy, Sero different couples, Starting treatment.
Hi , I am 36, married, and pregnant and have just found out that I am HIV positive, with CD4 of 239.
My question is I never get sick or have any symptoms that I am infected, so now I am worried that I maybe too late to start treatment, because they told me that I need to start when my CD4 count is about 350.
My mind still adjusting to the news cos its only weeks find out I am positive but I have the reason to live that is why I accept that life goes on, its the matter of changing lifestyle and live good healthy life style.
My other worry is that my husband tested 6 months ago and he said he tested negative, checking from that time do you think he lied to me about his result because now I six month pregnant and positive. Is it possible to check when I became HIV positive?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
As you asked a number of questions, I will respond to them one at a time.
Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy.
Although it might be difficult to learn you are HIV positive, it is much better that you found out now. Earlier is always better both for your health and for your baby. You are also right in taking a positive attitude about your life.
Even though your CD4 count is less than 350, you will still get a good response to HIV treatment (ART). The meds will help get you CD4 count become higher again and will protect the baby from HIV. The meds will also protect your husband from HIV in the future. Also, since 2015, ART is recommended for everyone, even at CD4 counts above 500.
Starting ART is important, so that your viral load can become undetectable when your baby is due to be born. This is because having an undetectable viral load is the best way for your baby to be HIV negative.
This guide to HIV and pregnancy has lots more information.
If your husband was HIV positive 6 months ago, it might be good for him to test again now. There is a small chance that he might have recently become HIV positive but that the test didn’t work. He might also really be HIV negative and has just continued to be lucky.
There are many couples were one partner is HIV positive, and the other is HIV negative, even when they haven’t been using condoms. Please follow this link for more information on such cases.
More information on sero-different couples (where one partner is HIV positive and the other is negative) is at this link. The answers to Q 5, 6 and 9 at this link might also help:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and please let us know if we can help further or again in the future.
Note: This answer was updated in January 2018 and July 2016Â from a question first posted online in November 2011.
Hi Benedie
Please contact your clinic to talk about this.
There are lots of better options than just stopping treatment. This is important both for your health and your baby.
Your doctor needs to understand how difficult this was for you, so that your health can be carefully managed.
I am hiv+ and two months pregnant and have just stared treatment but it makes me feel sick so i have stopped please i need advice on how to deal with this
Hi Lucas,
Please see our FAQs from couples in this situation for information about how one person can be positive and the other negative, and also for information about how you and your girlfriend could still have a baby.
I always test and results came out as negative but today 28/03/2013 I took my girlfriend whom we had unprotected sex she tested positive but I again tested negative in two different places so are there any chances that I am negative?Again she is pregnant of my child and if I can test negative after 6months I am deciding to leave her because I wanted to start a family with her and how are we going to have kids if we are using condom for the rest of our lives?
You, and your wife’s HIV status does not tell you who is the father of her child. Please see this previous question about how one person can be positive when the other is negative.
I am HIV negative but my wife is positive and pregnant,is the baby mine or not?
Hi. Any symptoms needs to be discussed with you doctor. These symptoms may or may not be important. Your doctor needs to see you to decide this.
My cd4 count is 242 and my viral load is 8626. I am frequently vomiting and my mind had difficulty concentrating and had pain. What about routine life could you please explain?
I am sorry you are having difficulty finding a partner. Being HIV positive doesn’t mean you can’t find a partner in the future though. It is proably better to be strong on your own that to be treated badly by someone who doesn’t respect you. Have you tried to find a partner who is also HIV positive? Perhaps by getting involved in a local HIV organisation to meet other people.
Am hiv poz for years now. All I need is some on to luv me just the way I am, every man want to luv you until you tell them you are hiv poz, some of them don’t ever no if the are hiv poz or not, the just don’t like hearing the name hiv, can you link me up with guy who are poz like me. God bless you. Lokoja kogi state of Nigeria