Question
Is it safe to conceive while taking Tribuss?
13 July 2012. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Sero different couples, South Africa.
Hi. I’m currently on Tribuss. CD4 count is 347 viral load undectectable. My partner is negative!
Is it safe to be pregnant while taking such treatment?
And what are the chances of not infecting him? (My partner)
Answer
It’s great that you and your partner are looking to the future and planning to have a baby. Many sero-different couples have had and continue having health HIV negative babies.
Tribuss contains the drugs efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir. It is a combination that is now used by many HIV positive pregnant women worldwide. In the past, women wishing to conceive were advised not to use efavirenz, or to switch if they found out they were pregnant whilst taking it.
However, over the past few years, this advice has now changed. Here in the UK, the current UK guidelines for the management of HIV in pregnancy recommend that efavirenz can continue to be used by women considering pregnancy. They also recommend that efavirenz can be used by women diagnosed HIV positive during pregnancy.
There are many reports of women throughout the world who have continued taking efavirenz during pregnancy.
You also asked what the chances are of you not passing HIV onto your partner. Taking ARVs and having an undetectable viral load dramatically reduces the chances of you passing HIV to your partner.
However, in terms of conception, the options are much simpler and cheaper in a situation like yours. Do-it-yourself artificial insemination (self insemination) using a plastic syringe carries no risk to your partner. This is a very safe way to protect him from HIV. Please follow this link to our guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. It provides more detailed information on this method.
Good luck with your future plans.
Hi,
If you are still HIV negative there is no reason to take the Tribuss. If you do not have HIV there is no way your baby will have HIV. It is important to protect yourself from transmission while pregnant. This is because the risk of transmission increases for pregnant women. You can do this by using a condom.
You should talk to your clinic or doctor about wether or to continue your Tribuss and getting tested.
Hi
My husband is positive, I’m negative. We wanted to have a baby and our dr. Said I should start taking tribuss, so that we could concive. We finally got it right after 2 months of trying but now I’m worried, should I still take the medication until our baby is born? I read on the tribuss ‘manual’ that the meds could harm the baby, should I be worried?
Hi,
It’s great that you are thinking of having a baby. Many couples like yours have HIV negative babies now.
YOu can find more information on how this is done here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/planning
Hey doc am also on tribuss and wanted to know is it safe for me and my partner we both hiv+ to have a baby,my cd4count is 440 and his is 623 with viral load undetactable.
Hi Nonhlanhla
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
Your doctor is giving you good information.
It is important to continue taking your HIV meds during pregnancy and afterwards. This will dramatically increase the chance of your baby not having HIV.
Tribuss is a generic version of Atripla.
I’m also 8 weeks pregnant and I’m on Tribuss. I was worried about the treatment that I’m taking but my Dr told me to continue using it.
Hi Suzan,
Lots of HIV positive women taking Tribuss get pregnant and have healthy babies. This is not a reason why you should have an abortion- it is very unlikely that your baby will have any negative effects from Tribuss and being on treatment means it is much less likely your baby will be born HIV+.
Our pregnancy guide and pregnancy FAQs have lots more information about HIV and pregnancy. Please let me know if you have any questions.
i think i am pregnant and currently on Tribuss, is it safe to keep the pregnancy? or should i abort?
Hi Treasure,
TAC and MSF have set up a system for reporting stock outs at South African clinics. If your clinic ever tells you that they have run out of meds report it here. This will help campaign to improve the provision of medication in South Africa.
You are right that it is important not to miss doses of your meds. I don’t know if it is possible to buy Tribuss over the counter but it is likely that you would need a prescription. If you contact TAC they should be able to advise you what to do when your clinic doesn’t have any meds in stock.
Hi Doc
I need to know if I can buy tribuss over the counter because I attend the Government clinic and sometimes they will tell us that they have ran out of medication so you have to wait untill they do and I feel that is dangerous since we suppose to take the medication everyday. I not not have a medical aid.
I have been taking the medicatio for four years now and I am scared of skipping my treatment.
Treasure
South Africa