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 Sinenhlanhla. As this answer above says, it is common for one person to test positive, even if they have been having sex without condoms. In this case you have both been lucky that he is not positive. It might be that you were positive before this relationship from another parter. Either way, it is better to make sure you have good support now for your future health.
I tested HIV positive few weeks back n i told my partner he went to clinic as well and tested HIV negative bt we’ve been sleeping without a condom for over 2 yearz and he is my only sexual partner how that possible
Hi, Starting treatment and getting the HIV in your blood to undetectable levels will help to protect your baby. If your partner is HIV negative then unprotected sex wouldn’t be an HIV risk for your baby. But your clinic can help you and your partner keep healthy to protect your baby.
You can find out more about HIV an pregnancy here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi I’m pregnant and found out that that I’m HIV positive. I started treatment when I was 4 months pregnant. I want to know if my baby is safe for I had unprotected sex with my HIV negative partner.
Hi Tadious
Are you and your wife on treatment?
If your viral load is undetectable this shows the treatment is working.
You will both still be HIV positive and the virus will come back if you stop treatment.
How is your new baby?
We have a child me and my wife is positive and they said they found nothing in my blood I don’t know if this possible it’s been now 6 months after birth
It seems very unlikely that your duaghter will be HIV positive.
It is much more likely that the test in December was accurate especially if there has been a time since then when you might have caught HIV.
Please talk to your clinic about aything that worries you.
It is good to look after your own helaht now so that your will be able to carry on looking after your daugther.
Modern HIV treatment is very good.
I am 27 years old I discover that I HIV positive on December 2015,I pretty worried about my 8 years old child because during my pregnancy I tested negative, will it be possible for her to be positive as well
Hi,
Due to the number of enquiries i-Base is no longer responding to individual questions about HIV testing or transmission.
Our service is primarily intended for HIV positive people. We appreciate your concerns though and have written a post with links to information answering most of the questions we receive about transmission and testing.
You can find this here:
http://i-base.info/qa/10439
i just want to know.if any person who doesn’t know that he is infected. but after a long time like 2 or 3 year he go to lab and test.
than what will be his result came out..
like positive or nagative? because i think its too late 2 or 3 years for test..
i tested for 14 to 15 times in different labs and hospitals or hiv centers but all results came nagative..
but i am worrying that i am positive..