Q and A

Question

Can an HIV positive man still have children?

24 March 2007. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.

Can an HIV positive man still have children? If so, what is the risk to mother and child?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Thanks for your question which is very easy to answer.

The simple answer is a definite “yes” as being on modern HIV treatment also protects your partner.

As long as viral load is undetectable, the risk of transmission becomes zero. This means that your partner will not be at risk and the baby will be negative too.

The risk of a baby having HIV is only directly related to the HIV status of the mother, not the father.

So if your partner is also HIV positive, this is how you can have an HIV negative baby.

The i-Base guide to HIV, Pregnancy and Women’s Health includes a chapter on planning pregnancies and is available online or in print.

Note: This answer was last updated in January 2018 from an original post from March 2007.

194 comments

  1. wisdom •

    please ,I am an HIV positive man and am taking the

    HIV drugs carefully

    my partner is HIV negative

    will I have hiv positive children??

  2. Roy Trevelion •

    Hi Private,
    The repercussions can be very good. Even with a very low CD4 count – even below 100 – if you take your drugs carefully, you have a good chance that ART will work. Your viral load will drop and your CD4 count will rise to safer levels. There’s more info at this link.

  3. private •

    What would be repercussions for taking hiv drugs at a very late stage of hiv and aids?

  4. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Swtangel,

    This is something that you should discuss with a fertility specialist.

  5. swtangel •

    iam HIV positive and my husband is HIV positive too and also having waterysperm,what is the solution of this watery sperm so that I can reproduce

  6. Nuer •

    Thank you for answers that you have provided.

  7. Roy Trevelion •

    Hi Jose,

    The simple answer is a definite “yes” as being on modern HIV treatment also protects your partner.

    The i-Base guide to HIV, Pregnancy and Women’s Health includes a chapter on planning pregnancies.

  8. Jose •

    I was diagnosed with hiv in 2013, although I live a healthy life and Im undetectable, I always question myself if i can still have children wich will be negative and healthier ?

  9. Aamir •

    Thank u very very much

  10. Roy Trevelion •

    Hi Drea D,
    Many thanks for telling us your story.

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