Q and A

Question

Are my ARVs safe in pregnancy?

14 May 2013. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.

I’m four months pregnant and I’m on ARVs lamivudine efavirenz and tenofovir. Is it safe for the baby if I continue taking them?

Answer

Answer: Rebecca McDowall

Hi,

Thanks for your question. Being on ARVs will reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby. If your viral load is undetectable throughout pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding the chance of passing HIV to your baby will be close to zero. So it is very important to continue taking ARVs throughout your pregnancy.

There used to be some advice against using efavirenz in pregnancy but this has changed. Please see this previous question for more informaiton about this.

Please also see our pregnancy guide, and this page about the safety of ARVs in pregnancy.

Please let me know if you have any further questions and I will be more than happy to help. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

108 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nokuthula,

    How long have you been without meds? What is your viral load? When are you due to give birth?

  2. NOKUTHULA •

    I missed my ARVS because of strike.it’s my baby still be ok

  3. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Patie,

    Because you’re pregnant, its very important that you take ART. If what you’re on is making you feel dizzy, you may need to change. Please talk to your doctor about this. Please also see the following:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  4. Patie •

    I’m pregnant and on ART. Its making me dizzy. I want to stop taking it.

  5. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Busisiwe,

    You’ll be fine. For more info please see Q4 here:

    http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions

  6. busisiwe •

    I’m a few weeks pregnant, I don’t know my viral load. Yesterday I missed taking my medicine cause I was working a night shift. Will my baby be OK?

  7. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Consuela,

    Its really important that you’re on ARVs when you’re pregnant. This is because its the ARVs that will help prevent transmission. For more info please see our HIV and pregnancy guide:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  8. consuela •

    Is it right to be on ARVs while pregnant?

  9. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Anonymous,

    Are you on treatment? If you are and have a undetectable viral load then the risks of transmission are close to zero. Please see the results from the PARTNER study:

    http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

    If you aren’t on treatment, the risks increase.

    You may also find our Pregnancy and HIV guide useful:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  10. annonymus •

    Hi I’m HIV positive and my partner negative we are using condom now he want a child what I can do I don’t want to him to be affected. Plz help

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