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
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!
Hi Zandy,
If you’re asking if the Heftenam is good for women who want to conceive, then yes it’s fine to take this combination. For more info about this ARV, please see here: https://i-base.info/guides/1561
Hi I’m on Arvs for 5 year I just start Heftenam July this year is it good for me as I’m planing to have child next year
Hi Paulina,
Yes, it’s important to keep taking your HIV treatment (ART). The benefits of ART are not just to your own health. Treating your HIV will reduce the risk of your baby becoming HIV positive to almost zero.
Please see this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health for lots more info in looking after your health and your baby’s health.
What HIV meds are you taking? And if you have access to your CD4 and viral load results, please also let us know what they are.
I’m 3 weeks pregnant can continue drinking my medicine or stop
Hi Ayanda,
ARVs don’t cause women to miscarry.
Hi I took Heftenam pills(ARVs) and I had a miscarriage
Hi Ziyanda,
Congratulations on the news that you’re going to have a baby.
And do you mean you’ve just found out you’re pregnant? All babies need to take a short course of HIV drugs for the first four weeks of life, if their mother is HIV positive. So do you mean your baby might be given nevirapine after being born?
But please reply if I have got your question wrong? And I’ll do my best to answer you.
Please see this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health for more info.
Hi im 6 months pregnant n I just found out tht I’m. Pregnant will my baby still be protected through nevirapine
Hi Thando,
Congratulations on the news you’re going to have a baby.
It’s great you started your meds immediately you tested HIV positive. Modern HIV meds (ARVs) are safe and effective. And the aim of ARVs is to get your viral load to undetectable. That means under 50 copies/mL.
Most people become undetectable within 3 months of starting ARVs. This treatment (ART) also means that the chances of passing HIV to your baby are close to zero if your viral load is undetectable.
There’s a lot more info in this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Hy
I was diagnosed with hiv at 11 July this year and started with my meds immediately now am 6 months pregnant
I want to know the chances of passing the virus to my baby as I’m still taking the treatment every day