Question
I'm HIV negative and my girfriend's positive. Can we have a baby?
25 June 2012. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Sero different couples.
I am dating a woman who is HIV positive and I love her with all my heart.
Now we want to start having kids.
What can I do, because I am HIV negative?
Answer
It is great that you love your girlfriend and plan to have children with her. 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 to a couple like you. These depend on a number of factors including whether your girlfriend is taking ARVs (antiretroviral treatment for HIV).
A simple method which protects you from catching HIV is the Do-It-Yourself articificial insemination. This is a method if self insemination using a plastic syringe. Around the time of ovulation, you put your sperms as high as possible into your girlfriend’s vagina.(Ovulation takes place in the middle of your girlfriend’s cycle, about 14 days before her period).
Different clinics may recommend different methods. One way is to have protected intercourse with a spermicide-free condom. Another is for you to ejaculate into a container. In both cases, you or your girlfriend can then insert the sperm into her vagina.
For more detailed information on the above and other options available to you, please follow this link to our guide to HIV, pregnancy and women’s health. The guide also answers a lot of general questions you and your girlfriend may have around HIV and pregnancy.
Good luck with your future plans.
Hi Precious,
Can you ask at the clinic for other plain containers for your ARVs? You can also ask the clinic if they can support you over your worry. Other people may have been in the same situation and they could have found solutions for this.
I live with my roommate now I’m afraid that she will see my Arvs, is it possible that I put them in another container and will they still work and not affect me anyhow?
Hi Michelle,
If your viral load is undetectable, then unless you have any other health issues, there’s no reason why you can’t have a natural birth. Please see here:http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi
Can I give birth naturally if I am Hiv possitive and my viral load is low?
Hi Selly,
It’s good that you both want to have a baby. And the great news is that taking ARVs can protect your partner and your baby from HIV.
If your viral load is undetectable HIV cannot be transmitted to your partner even if you don’t use condoms. Please see U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about planning to have a baby too.
I’m hiv positive and my partner is negative we love each other but his scared he will get it and I’m on ARV 12 years and we wanto have a baby
Hi Amelia,
Can I ask if there’s a reason why you’re not taking HIV treatment (ART)? Do you have access to your viral load and CD4 count results? Please let us know.
The best way to look after your own health, as well as your baby’s health, is to take ART and have an undetectable viral load.
Please see this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
If an HIV+ mother is not taking drugs n breastfeeding while the baby is taking NEVIRAPINE,is it possible for the baby to be infected with the virus??
Hi Madina,
Yes it is common for someone to be HIV positive when other members of the family are negative.
This happens even with partners, as Angelina says on this Q&A.
But how is your young brother? Does he have access to HIV treatment? Please let us know how he’s getting on.
Hi
I need your best council. I need to understand something cause I’m confused. I just recently found out that my fourth young brother aged 16 has HIV. And now my is.. Is it possible to have somebody in your family possess HIV whilst the rest don’t have?