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 Mary,

    This won’t have anything to do with your HIV, nor the ARVs. Therefore, this is something that you should talk to a doctor about.

  2. Mary •

    Hello am 14 weeks pregnant and just started my ARV treatment. But late in the night i started having some brownish discharge with a bit of blood in it. Is my baby safe?

  3. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi CC,

    The following guide discusses HIV and pregnancy:

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

    You might be suffering from morning sickness.

  4. Cc •

    Hi there I am about 6 weeks pregnant and taking arv however I haven’t seen a doctor or been to my clinic that been taking care of me . I notice that some mornings when I get sick it’s yellow I haven’t any information or guidance on if baby is safe and what should I do next

  5. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Amanda,

    As the above post explains, yes it is safe to take ARVs when pregnant.

  6. Amanda •

    Hi I’m pregnant but the scan doesn’t show and im on ARVs I do take them is it safe for my unborn baby

  7. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Yvonne,

    You should be fine. What is it that you took?

  8. yvonne •

    I’m pregnant I took my moms ARV and not mine. Will my baby be OK?

  9. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Tshifhiwa,

    How long have you been taking the ARVs? Are you sure the vomiting isn’t morning sickness? When you say pain, that do you mean by this?

  10. Tshifhiwa •

    When I eat, I vomit. My body is painful always and I’m pregnant, its four months now. I use ARV every day, why is this happening?

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