Question
I’m HIV negative and my husband’s positive. Can we have a baby?
31 May 2012. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Pregnancy, Sero different couples.
I just found out last year that my husband is HIV positive.
I have done two tests and both of them came out negative. The last one was an ELISA test.
We would like to have one more child. His CD4 count taken earlier this month is 600. He is not on treatment. My CD4 count is 1400. I took it just to be sure.
How is it possible for me to remain negative?
Can we have a child?
Please help.
Answer
Firstly, I am sorry about your husband’s recent diagnosis. It is good that you are supporting him and planning to have a second baby in the future.
Many sero-different couples (where one is HIV positive and the other is not), have had and continue to have healthy HIV negative babies.
There are a number of conception options available for couples like you. These are dependant on a number of factors including whether your partner is on treatment or not and what his viral load is. For more information on these options, please follow this link to our guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health.
You may also find it helpful to follow this link to the Swiss statement which explains in more detail, conditions that need to be present, should you choose to go for the option of TUI (Timed Unprotect Intercourse) as explained in the guide above.
In response to your second question, it is possible for you to test HIV negative whilst your husband tests HIV positive. This is not uncommon and there are many couples in your situation.
The risk of catching HIV relates to many things, including your partner’s viral load (ie how infections he or she is). Not every exposure results in HIV being passed on. And you may also have just been lucky so far.
It doesn’t mean that you are protected as you could still be at risk of getting HIV later on.
This risk is dramatically reduced when the positive partner is taking ARVs and has an undetectable viral load. Viral load refers to the amount of virus in your body. Having undetectable viral load means having very little virus therefore the risk of transmission.
For more information on risks of transmission, please follow this link to our guide to HIV testing and risks of transmission. The guide also explains your situation in more detail.
Good luck with your future plans.
I’m hiv positive for 9 years and my wife still negative with my 3 kids also negative, I’m on arv is this a mith, must I stop the treatment or continue
Hi Francina.
If your partners viral load is undetectable this will explain why you are negative. Please see here: http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Am hiv negative n my man is hiv positive n his viral is undetectable n we have 3 years dating condom burst more than 10 times n am still negative
Hi Jacob,
Unfortunately, I can’t comment on your quarrelling. But for info about taking your ARVs, perhaps you should look at U=U.
U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) means that if you have an undetectable viral load on HIV treatment (ART) you cannot transmit HIV, even if you don’t use condoms.
HIV positive people who are taking ART, and are undetectable, can now have a life expectancy similar to people who are HIV negative.
Please see ART in pictures for much more info about how ART works.
I am HIV positive. My wife is negative. I am currently on ARV. Our relationship has become worse of late.my wife has been quarreling me that am +ve and am going to die alone.An so stressed that I want us to separate. What should I do?
Hi Epimba,
There’s no reason why having an HIV positive girlfriend should stop you getting married. Here’s an answer to a similar Q&A.
I’m HIV negative and my girlfriend in positive, I’m afraid to get married to her because of her condition
Hi Zimephi,
First, congratulations on the news of your pregnancy. It’s also great that you’ve tested HIV negative.
But is your partner on HIV treatment (ART)? If so, and if his viral load result is undetectable, HIV cannot be transmitted. Even if you don’t use condoms.
Please see Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) at this link for more info.
I’m hiv negative and 4weeks pregnant but my partner is hiv positive what I need to do?
Hi Paul,
I can’t really comment about your girlfriend running away. However, if you’re on treatment and your viral load is undetectable you cannot transmit HIV when having sex without a condom. Please see here:http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/ If you are undetectable, this will explain why your girlfriend is negative. You may wish to share this info with her.