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. zama •

    My fiance is HIV positive and I am HIV negative. We want to try to have kids but I dont want to get infected and we dont afford sperm washing or artificial insemination. Is there any way for us to do this?

  2. Rebecca McDowall •

    Hi Themba,

    Sorry but we are not a dating site. There are lots of dating sites available for positive people though. Because you are based in South Africa maybe you could look at HIV Positive Dating or Positive Dating

  3. themba •

    Hi. I’m Hiv positive and want to have a baby through artificial insemination or invitro. My viral load is undetectable. Can u help me find sum1 a lady who is less than 30yrs old and willing to have a baby through these processes. I’m working, goodlooking and tall.

  4. Simon Collins •

    If you are HIV negative, then your children will be HIV negative. The father’s HIV status is not directly related to the chance of a child being HIV positive. Sperm cells do not contain HIV, only the fluid (semen) that contain the sperm cells.

  5. Jade Ashley •

    Hi there,

    I am HIV negative (i know this as i was tested last year) ihave a 3 year old son. His father didn’t want to know him but I’m
    Worried if my son could be HIV positive. No that his father ever told me he was. What is the likelyness?

    Many thanks

  6. Simon Collins •

    If this is the first time you have been out with someone who is HIV positive, it is likely to take time to understand your feelings. Condoms work very effectively at stopping HIV. This is why they are publicised so widely. But you have to understand this yourself if you want to have a sexual relationship.

    Lots of couples also have children and the babies are HIV negative.

    See this guide to HIV and pregnancy for information, especially about conceiving when the man is positive and the Swiss Statement about reduced risk of HIV transmission from using treatment.

  7. lisa •

    I am HIV negative but my boyfriend is positive. Since he told me he was positive I

  8. Simon Collins •

    Hi Mark

    The i-Base guide to transmission discusses different risk in more detail. This is too important to summarise in a couple of lines. You both will feel more in control of your choices if you take time to learn more about this. You are far more experienced in this than your new partner, so this might take time. Condoms stop HIV, so if you use them correctly every time there is no reason for your partner to become HIV positive. I hope you new relationship goes well.

  9. mark •

    hi
    i tested + in 2006 i have since broke up with my parter who is also +. i have now become close friends with a who is – but she is very scared of me passing it onto her through protected sex what are the risk factors in this ?

  10. Simon Collins •

    Hi Jeff

    Sperm-washing is rarely used now. This is partly because of cost, reduced likelihood of conceiving and medicalisation of pregnancy. This is also mainly because of the increased amount od research showing how the risk of transmission is significantly reduced when viral load is very low, especially if undetectable.

    There are several aspects of managing and reducing this risk if your partner is negative and you want to try for a baby.
    More information is at these links:
    – Preconception, planned pregnancy, and your rights to have a baby
    – When the man is HIV-positive and the woman HIV-negative
    – The Swiss Statement (on reduced risk when you are on treatment)

    See these links to the i-Base pregnancy guide for more information.

    Talk to your doctor – if he/she is not supportive or helpful, then look for someone who is more helpful.

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