Question
My CD4 count is low. Can I have a baby?
7 June 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Pregnancy.
I am 29 years old. I am HIV positive and have been taking ARVs for 5 years.
I want a child but my chances of having a baby are scarce because my CD4 count is low.
What must I do to increase my CD4 cells? Please help me.
Answer
Having a low CD4 count alone should not stop you from having a baby. Many women living with HIV who have a low CD4 count have gone on to have babies.
The most important factor in having a healthy HIV negative baby is having an undetectable viral load by the time you deliver. Please follow this link to our guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. The guide answers a lot of general questions you may have around planning your pregnancy.
I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions before I respond to your second question. This will enable me to give you a more comprehensive answer.
You mention that you have been on treatment for 5 years and that your CD4 count is low. Can I ask how low your CD4 count is? Do you also know what your viral load is? And a finally, do you remember what your CD4 count was when you started taking ARVs (antiretroviral treatment for HIV)?
I can appreciate you are concerned that it is taking long for your CD4 count to increase. This is not uncommon. The rate at which CD4 counts increase is usually related to how low they got before you started treatment. Most people see an increase their CD4 count within a year of starting treatment.
However, if your CD4 count was quite low to begin with it could take you much longer to see more of an increase in your CD4 count. Please follow this link to our guide to An introduction to combination therapy for more detailed information on the rate at which average CD4 counts increases over the years,
Your third question was regarding what you can do in order to increase your CD4 count. By taking ARVs, you are already doing the best you can. This is because, ARVs are the only proven way of not only achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load, it is the only way of increasing your CD4 count.
Good luck with your future plans.
I would like to know how I can increase my cd4 count. It is very low (seven) and i just started my ARVs. pls help
Hi. This is something to ask your doctor about. If you are trying for a baby, there may be other things that can help. If your ARVs are working well to treat your HIV, there is no reason to stop them. ARVs do not reduce the chance of becoming pregnant.
i m 37 yrs of age, hiv positive, CD4 count 600 and I’m trying to have my second baby but its been difficult almost 4years trying. Could this be the ARVs? I am quite confused.
Hi
I’m sorry about your diagnosis. This is always difficult to hear and it will take time for you to come to terms with this. It is sometimes easier if you are connected to a local support group or you speak with other HIV positive people who have gone through the same thing.
Your CD4 count is currently above 500, which is often referred to as still being normal. In most countries, including the UK, this would not be a reason to start treatment, unless you had other medical complications or wanted to be less infectious to sexual partners. You can take time in this decision though.
The Introduction to Combination Therapy guide includes non-technical information about treatment. When you start treatment and which drugs you use will depend on guidelines in your country.
It is a good idea to read about HIV and treatment and to ask your doctor questions that you have about your future health.
Hi’ I was just told that I’m HIV positive two weeks ago. My CD4 count is 600 and not on ARV. Is good that I’m not on ARV or I’m in danger. Pls advice me.
I’m afraid there is no cure for HIV at this time. Luckily there are some really good treatments that can give people with HIV a near normal life expectancy and a good quality of life. Please see our previous questions about a cure for more information.
Is there any cure for HIV?
Hi Kgomotso,
Please follow this link to our pregnancy guide for information about having a baby when you are HIV positive and your husband is negative. If you are on treatment and have an undetectable viral load please see this previous question you may be able to get pregnant through having unprotected sex. This is because having an undetectable viral load makes it much less likely that you will pass HIV to your partner. Please follow this link for more information. Please do speak to your doctor about this too as s/he will be able to give you advice about your particular situation.
Im hiv+ my hasband is negative and we want a baby so wat must we do
Hi Miss Q,
In South Africa an HIV positive woman who doesn’t need treatment for her own health (because she has a high CD4) would usually start AZT at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Leaving this until later in pregnancy increases the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby, although it is still possible to reduce this risk later in pregnancy. What advice has your doctor given you about this?
You can read more about this in our pregnancy guide.